No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine performance characteristics of physically awkward children during the recovery portion of the sprinting stride, and compare them to those of non-awkward children. The dependent variables (length of functional phases, and length and method of power flow at the hip and knee joints) were calculated using the digitized coordinates of selected body landmarks from a high-speed camera film. Statistical analysis was used to interpret the dependent variables, as well as compare them across ability levels. / The results revealed no significant differences between ability levels in the dependent variables examined. The findings from this study allow for physically awkward children to be characterized as having abilities for success during the recovery of the sprinting stride. Identifying abilities represents an approach that focusses on a positive view into physical awkwardness, a view which has traditionally been negative. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to determine how predicting ability in a ball catching task changes with age, and, to explore the predicting abilities of children with the developmental coordination disorder (DCD). / There were 157 children between the ages of 5 and 12 participating in the first portion of the study. Of these children, 46 were 5 to 7 years of age and served as controls, in the second portion of the study, for 40 5 to 7-year old children with DCD. / Predicting ability was tested by having the children watch a video of a boy throwing a ball to three locations around them. Each location was seen at four different viewing times for a total of 60 trials. / Results for both ANOVAs revealed that as more visual information became available, predictions were more accurate. It was also evident that at the early viewing times younger children did not predict ball flight as well as older groups. Similarly, children with DCD predicted more poorly at most viewing times compared to their non-DCD peers. / Similar results were found for gender in the analysis comparing DCD and non-DCD children. At the early time periods males predict more effectively than females. / Thus the data point to the instances where experience is a crucial factor in predicting ball flight.

No description available.

Soccer experts (N = 18), novices (N = 16), and children who are physically awkward (N = 18), were studied for differences in self-regulatory forethought and self-reflection processes during a soccer kicking task. The participants (age range 12--14 years) were questioned regarding goals, strategy choice, and self-efficacy, as well as self-reflection attributions and feelings of self-satisfaction as they practiced the task. Among the significant results, children who are physically awkward possessed less soccer kicking knowledge and displayed lower self-efficacy after success than experts and novices. They also set less specific goals, selected less rhythm/timing strategies following failure, and attributed less to rhythm/timing and practice following success than experts. In comparison to novices, children who are physically awkward showed no differences in goals and strategy prior to the task but in terms of strategy after failure and attributions after success they had less "I don't know" strategy answers and practice attributions. There was no significant difference among the three groups in self-satisfaction.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 208-219).

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of obesity and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) of girls in the age group 10-12 years of different race groups in the North-West Province. A second purpose was to determine if DCD status can be predicted effectively among 10-12 year old girls with regard to race, age, percentage body fat, body mass, length, body mass index and bent aim hang. Obesity is the cause of health risks, psychological consequences and improper development (Chantell et al., 1994:116; Marshall & Bouffard, 1994:1997; Treuth et al., 1997:1738). Children with DCD have poor motor abilities and experience problems regarding concentration and social abilities, all of which are necessary for successful schooling (Geuze & Borger, 1993:14; Piek & Edwards, 1997:55; Sugden & Chambers, 1998:139) According to research, the incidence of obesity among children has doubled over the last 20 years, and 10-30% of all children and adolescents can be classified as obese. Causes of obesity may be genetic but a lack of physical activity and an unbalanced diet can also contribute to obesity. Health risks, psycho-social risks and developmental disorders are all indicated in the literature to be consequences of obesity. The incidence of DCD is documented in the literature to be between 5% and 16%. It is also shown that it may be the cause of problems in daily living and at school, and some racial differences with regard to motor differences are indicated. It is also indicated that overweight and obese children are less mobile and that their motor achievement is poorer in movements where the shifting of body weight is required. All the subjects for this study (N=346) completed the Movement ABC (MABC) (Henderson & Sugden, 1992) to determine their DCD status. Fat percentage was determined from the subscapular and triceps skin folds according to the formula of Boileau et al. (1985:17-27), while a body mass index (BMI) (l/w2)above the 85th percentile was used as a criterion for overweight, and a BMI of above the 95th percentile for obesity. The Statistics for Windows computer package was used to determine descriptive statistics and significant differences between the groups. The results showed that the incidence of obesity and DCD were 4,93% and 59,78% respectively. 50% of the white girls, 72,73% of blacks, 0% of coloureds and 100% of Indian girls in the total group who were classified as DCD were also obese. The results indicated a higher relationship between obesity and DCD among the Indian and black girls compared to the white and coloured girls in the DCD group. Indian girls showed the highest incidence of obesity and coloured girls the least. The Indian and black girls also showed the highest incidence of DCD, while the percentages of DCD among all the race groups were higher than the levels indicated in the literature. The percentage of obesity found in the study was lower than in the literature, but higher percentages were found among the Indian and white girls, while all the obese Indian girls were also classified as suffering from DCD. With regard to the second aim of the study, no significant predictors for DCD could be found among the different body composition variables of bent arm hang, race and age, although some tendencies emerged. Results showed that the percentage fat was not a good predictor of DCD status in the group, but in the different racial groups its predictive value became higher. However, none of the variables could be considered good predictors of DCD status among girls, although it can be concluded that there are tendencies towards a relationship between obesity, DCD and race. Thus it is important for children with DCD and obesity (separate and in combination) to be identified and treated with intervention programs as early as possible, and it is essential to include physical activities as part of the treatment (Dussart, 1994:81; LeMure et al., 2000:336). The results of the study indicated that it is important to analyse the needs and characteristics of the different race groups in order to ensure the success of such programs. Indian girls especially should be encouraged to participate in physical activity programmes because of the high percentages of obesity found in the DCD group. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.