Motor fitness in Dutch youth: Differences over a 26-year period (1980–2006)

Long-Term Athletic Development- Part 1

“…Irrespec-tive of whether youth are involved in organized sport, there often remain varying levels of understanding and a general lack of coordinated planning among those practitioners who are ultimately responsible for the long-term welfare and well-being of youth. Consequently, despite global physical activity recommendations and the existence of models of talent identification and development, the numbers of youth displaying substandard levels of physical fitness, muscular strength, and motor skill competency is increasing globally (12,37,43,45,49,52,56). A contemporary corollary of reduced levels of physical fitness in modern day youth is an increase in the number of youth experiencing sports-and physical activity-related injuries (1,7,9), overtraining and nonfunctional overreaching ( 3 3), burnout (17), and eventual dropout from their chosen sport(s), which remains a concern for practitioners.…”

Long-Term Athletic Development, Part 2

“…Despite the obvious role for the education sector to teach and develop health and skill-related fitness in school-age youth, researchers have shown that current education systems are failing to develop appropriate standards of fitness (77,108,119). For example, an examination of the national curricula for physical education within the United Kingdom shows that there is minimal reference to ageappropriate motor skill development and resistance training for school children, especially for primary school education.…”

Secular Trends in Anthropometrics and Physical Fitness of Young Portuguese School-Aged Children

“…17 The pattern of change of all the other components of physical fitness in school-aged children seem to be more inconsistent; some studies have reported a physical fitness decline, while other studies have reported no changes between decades or even increases. [18][19][20][21] This secular changes in pediatric physical fitness may result from multiple factors; the socio-cultural context is one of the most determinant factor that probably triggers a positive relationship between a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness. 22 Understanding local or national trends in physical fitness and obesity are important inputs to identifying successful and less successful strategies.…”

“…22 Understanding local or national trends in physical fitness and obesity are important inputs to identifying successful and less successful strategies. 19 This type of knowledge would allow us to redefine organizations, and act more effective in promoting healthy behaviors through physical participation.…”