Development of basic motor skills in children in the 2019 category of the small area sports corporation

Abstract

The following work focuses on the study of the development of basic motor skills in children from the 2019 category of the Corporación Deportiva Área Chica in Montería, Córdoba. From childhood, motor development plays a fundamental role in comprehensive growth, especially in contexts such as youth soccer, where skills such as running, jumping, throwing, kicking, and balancing are essential not only in sports but also in everyday life. Therefore, we proposed to develop basic motor skills in children by administering the Basic Motor Skills Test proposed by González et al. (2021). The methodology used was a quantitative approach, under a positivist paradigm, with a non-experimental cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 15 child athletes in training. The results showed that, for the most part, the children showed adequate development of the evaluated skills, especially in locomotion and dynamic balance tests. However, some difficulties were observed in skills involving non-dominant laterality, such as throwing with the left hand or receiving with the left foot, which highlights the importance of working on motor development in a balanced and contextualized manner. It is concluded that motor assessment allows for the identification of strengths and areas for improvement in each child, and that the use of playful and affective strategies within grassroots football not only enhances athletic performance but also promotes comprehensive motor development, respecting individual rhythms and promoting meaningful experiences for children.