Effects of a structured sports program on motor skills and executive functions in preschoolers: A pilot randomized controlled trial

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Instructional Innovation and Learner Outcomes in PE/PETE

Abstract

Objectives: Gross motor skills (GMS) and executive function (ET) are critical for preschoolers' physical coordination, cognitive regulation, and school readiness. This pilot RCT evaluated the effectiveness of a 12-week structured sports program in improving GMS and ET, and its feasibility for integration into early childhood education. Methods: 62 preschoolers were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG) (n = 28) or a control group (CG) (n = 25). EG received the soccer intervention, whereas the CG received the school-based physical activities. Pre- and postintervention assessments included the TGMD-3 for GMS and E-Prime 3.0 for ET: Flanker, N-back, and Dimensional change card sort. Results: A 2×2 repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant effects of time, group, and their interaction for GMS (ps < .001), with the EG showing greater improvements in both object control and locomotor abilities. For ET, significant time and interaction effects were observed for inhibitory control (p = .004), cognitive flexibility (p = .024), and working memory (p = .022), indicating superior post-intervention gains in the EG. Conclusion: As China’s first pilot RCT using a soccer-based curriculum for preschoolers, this study provides preliminary evidence for enhancing motor and cognitive development, highlighting the value of enriched physical education and offering guidance for early childhood curriculum.

Authors

• Yujia Qu, The Education University Of Hong Kong

• Jiayang Luo, China Institute of Sports Science

• King Chung Derwin CHAN, The Education University Of Hong Kong

• Jiawei Li, Macau University of Science and Technology