Basic motor abilities as predictors of mastering an obstacle course designed to test motor skills

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of motor abilities on mastering an obstacle course and define quantitative differences in basic motor abilities between the students awarded poor grades and the students awarded higher grades based on the result achieved on the obstacle course designed to test motor skills. The results of regression analysis demonstrated that motor abilities are important for mastering an obstacle course for testing motor skills and, on the basis of them, we may predict the result that defines the students' specific skills. Moreover, the results of the Student's t-test for independent samples demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the level of motor abilities between the students awarded poor grades and those awarded higher grades. The difference is defined by statistically significantly better values of the results achieved on motor tests: the maximum number of sit-ups (MPTP), stick mobility (MOKP), hand tapping (MTAP) and Cooper's 12 minute run test (MKUP), achieved by the students with higher grades, based on which we can assume that these variables are predictive of successful mastery of the obstacle course for testing motor skills. The results obtained might contribute to a better organization of training work in teaching, especially regarding an approach to improving motor abilities that dominantly have an impact on mastering an obstacle course designed to test motor skills.