Effect of Relative Age on Gross Motor Coordination Development, Considering Biological Maturity and Sex.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effect of relative age on gross motor coordination (GMC) development, taking into account biological maturity and sex.

METHODS

729 participants aged 10 to 16 years completed three GMC tests newly designed to minimize the potentially confounding effects of physical fitness. The tests included a Hand-Foot coordination test, Dribbling-Targeting test (DT test), and a T balance and agility test (T test). Relative age was determined using birth quartiles: BQ (January-March); BQ (April-June); BQ (July-September); and BQ (October-December). Regarding biological maturity, the participants were categorized according to their estimated peak height velocity (pre- and post-PHV).

RESULTS

Relative age did not significantly impact the overall GMC score. In contrast, biological maturity emerged as a significant determinant of GMC, with post-PHV participants outperforming their pre-PHV counterparts in the three tests ( < 0.001). The results also showed a significant main effect of sex in the DT and T tests, i.e., in tasks involving dynamic coordination and agility, with boys consistently outperforming girls ( < 0.001). Significant biological maturity × sex interactions in the DT and T tests also indicated an advantage of boys over girls with advancing biological maturity ( < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

these findings highlight the importance of considering biological maturity and sex rather than relative age in GMC development from childhood through adolescence.