This study compared performances and motor delay classifications for the Test of Gross Motor Development-2nd edition (TGMD-2) and the Körperkoordinationstest Für Kinder (KTK) in a sample of 424 healthy children (47% girls) between 5 and 10 years of age. Low-to-moderate correlations (r range = 0.34–0.52) were found between assessments across age. In general, both boys and girls demonstrated higher raw scores across age groups. However, percentile scores indicated younger children outperformed older children, denoting a normative percentile-based decrease in motor competence (MC) in the older age groups. In total, the TGMD-2 and KTK classified 39.4% and 18.4% children, respectively, as demonstrating very low MC (percentile ≤5). In conclusion, the TGMD-2 classified significantly more children with motor delays than the KTK and the differences between children’s motor skill classification levels by these assessments became greater as the age groups increased. Therefore, the TGMD-2 may demonstrate more susceptibility to sociocultural influences and be more influenced by cumulative motor experiences throughout childhood. Low-to-moderate correlations between assessments also suggest the TGMD-2 and KTK may measure different aspects of MC. As such, it may be important to use multiple assessments to comprehensively assess motor competence.

This study aimed to review and examine the tools used to assess psychomotor performance of children with visual impairment. Databases, such as SCOPUS, MEDLINE/PubMed, Medline/EBSCO, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, and ScienceDirect, were searched using Mesh terms. Data from manuscripts fully available in these databases between 1994 and 2017 (except CINAHL—2014) concerning the evaluation, tool development, or intervention for the improvement of motor skills in children (age, 7-10 years) with visual impairment were collected. The Critical Review Form—Quantitative Studies was used to evaluate the quality of the articles. As a result, 1113 articles were found, but only 24 met the inclusion criteria; 66.7% of the articles had moderate quality, with unsatisfactory results regarding the validity and reliability of the tools used to assess these children, as well as the absence of clinical importance and practical application in such studies. Only the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 and Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 described data on the validation and reliability in visually impaired children. To minimize systematic errors and improve the quality of the investigations, increasing the number of studies regarding the tools, functionality of their activities, and testing the adaptions is necessary.

Nunes, ACCA, Cattuzzo, MT, Faigenbaum, AD, and Mortatti, AL. Effects of integrative neuromuscular training and detraining on countermovement jump performance in youth volleyball players. J Strength Cond Res 35(8): 2242–2247, 2021—The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of integrative neuromuscular training (INT) on countermovement vertical jump height (CVJH) performance in youth volleyball players before and after a detraining period. Thirty-two novice volleyball players were cluster randomized into 2 groups: intervention group—INT (age: 13.1 ± 0.4 years; body mass: 55.3 ± 12.1 kg; and height: 161.1 ± 6.4 cm) and control group—CON (age: 12.8 ± 0.7 years; body mass: 51.8 ± 13.6 kg; and height: 160.1 ± 10.7 cm). The subjects were evaluated for somatic maturation (years from peak height velocity) and for CVJH performance at 4 time points during the 20-week study period: baseline, 6 weeks of INT, 12 weeks of INT, and 8 weeks after INT (detraining). The analysis used repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc test to identify possible differences in the CVJH delta in both groups. Spearman correlation was performed to verify the association between the values of the vertical jump tests and maturational levels found. The INT showed a significant improvement in the CVJH from baseline to 12 weeks and maintained training-induced gains after detraining period ( p > 0.001). Significant increase in CVJH was found in the percentage of change (Δ%) from baseline to 6 weeks ( p < 0.005), 12 weeks ( p < 0.001), and detraining ( p < 0.001) in INT compared with the CON. The results of this study indicate that INT was able to improve CVJH performance in novice youth volleyball players and these gains were sustained during the detraining period. These findings indicate that regular participation in supervised INT can enhance jumping performance in young volleyball players, and that this type of neuromuscular program may be particularly beneficial for youth with limited fundamental motor skill performance.