Improving Coordinative Capacity in Fourth-Grade Physical Education Lessons Through the Application of Movement Games
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.71(2).13Keywords:
coordinative capacities, students, movement games, physical education lessonAbstract
Introduction: The present article aims to highlight the effectiveness of using movement games as the primary means for improving coordinative capacity in fourth-grade students during physical education lessons. In the context of school physical education, the development of coordinative capacities at early school age represents a priority, and movement games - through their playful, varied, and motivating character - prove to be an extremely valuable didactic tool for achieving this objective. Purpose: The purpose of the present research is to improve coordinative capacity in fourth-grade physical education lessons through the application of movement games. Methods: The following research methods were used in conducting the experiment: study of specialized literature, pedagogical observation method, experimental method, testing method and control probes, statistical-mathematical method, and graphical and tabular method. The research was conducted at Gymnasium School No. 51 in Bucharest, Sector 2, on a sample of 50 students (20 girls and 30 boys) belonging to the primary cycle in classes IV A (control group) and IV B (experimental group), with ages between 10 and 11 years. Results: The results obtained in the final evaluation revealed significantly superior performances of the experimental group compared to the control group across all four tests used to measure coordinative capacity, thus demonstrating the superior efficiency of applying movement games in physical education lessons compared to the exclusive use of classical exercises. Conclusions: Through play, a complex and integrated development of students’ physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills was achieved; play proved to be an effective method for developing coordinative capacities; activities that included movement games were attractive and highly appreciated by the children, due to the positive emotions generated by competition.
Article history: Received 2026 March 18; Revised 2026 May 14; Accepted 2026 May 16; Available online 2026 June 30; Available print 2026 July 30
References
Akay, B., Ceylan, M., Ayan, S., Dündar, H., & Altun, A. (2025). Trends in the research of children and play. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 17(5), 690-706. https://doi.org/10.26822/iejee.2025.408
Alecu, A., Catanescu, A., Naiba, G. O., Visan, P., & Cojanu, F. (2025). Evaluation of the effectiveness of applying movement games for the development of motor skills in children aged 7-12 years. Timisoara Physical Education and Rehabilitation Journal, 18(34), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.2478/tperj-2025-0015
Canli, T., Canli, U., Taskin, C. & Aldhahi, M. I. (2023). Motor Coordination in Primary School Students: The Role of Age, Sex, and Physical Activity Participation in Turkey. Children (Basel), 10(9), 1524. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10091524.
Chirazi, M., Constantin, I. I., & Petrea, R. G. (2025). The dynamics of coordinative abilities according to age, gender and school performance at secondary school level. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov.Series IX, Sciences of Human Kinetics, 18(1), 143-148. https://doi.org/10.31926/but.shk.2025.18.67.1.16
Dobrescu, T. (2016). Aspects regarding the promotion of movement games through the structural components of the middle school physical education lesson. Gymnasium. Scientific Journal of Education, Sports, and Health, No. 1, Vol. XVII /2016, 137-148. https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstream/10400.22/12356/1/Art_Paulo%20Pereira_2016.pdf
Dobrescu, T. (2019). Influences of physical education lesson movement games on the motor behavior of primary school pupils. Gymnasium, Scientific Journal of Education, Sports, and Health Supplement, 20(1),15-28. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345487011_Influences_of_Physical_Education_Lesson_Movement_Games_on_the_Motor_Behavior_of_Primary_School_Pupils
Gökşin, Ş.Ö, Kırandı, Ö. & Keskin, B. (2025). Contextual application of integrative neuromuscular training: motor skill competence in rural primary school children aged 8–10 years. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports, 29(5), 454–466. https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2025.0507
Hirtz, P., & Starosta, W. (2002). Sensitive al critical periods of motor co-ordination development and its relation to motor learning. Journal of Human Kinetics, 7, 19-28. https://johk.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/03_hir.pdf
Mardiansyah, A., Bakhtiar, S., & Syafruddin, S. (2024). Effect of game-based motor coordination (GBMC) on enhancing positive experiences for early talent development in primary school. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 24(8), 2025-2032. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2024.08224
Marwan, I., & Rohayati, N. (2025). The effect of smart kiddo games on fine and gross motor skills in early childhood. TEM Journal, 14(1), 684-694. https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM141-61
Moisescu, P. C., & Gürbüz, A. (2017). Developing coordinative abilities through movement games. Ştiinţa Culturii Fizice, 28(2), 60–63. https://scf.usefs.md/en/PDF/Revista%20SCF/2-2017/2--2017_8_en.pdf
Pehoiu, C. (2010). Spatio-temporal orientation development during the physical education class, with 5th and 6th form pupils. International Journal of Educational and Pedagogical Sciences, 4 (12), 2219 -2228. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1056086
Pesce, C., Masci, I., Marchetti, R., Vazou, S., Sääkslahti, A., & Tomporowski, P. D. (2016). Deliberate play and preparation jointly benefit motor and cognitive development: Mediated and moderated effects. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, Article 349. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00349
Rechtik, Z., Miklankova, L. & Pugnerova, M. (2019). Assessment of gross motor skills in primary schools children from the Czech Republic. Balt J Health Phys Act., Suppl (2): 22-26. https://doi.org/10.29359/BJHPA.2019.Suppl.2.04
Rossum v.T., Miller, A., Rudd, J., Issartel, J., Goodway J.D., O’Connor, D., Foulkes, J., Kavanagh, J., Morley, D. (2025). The MOGBA randomized controlled trial: Evaluation of a complex movement skill intervention for 8–12 year old children in primary school physical education. PLoS One, 20(7), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327136
Savu, C.F., & Pehoiu, C. (2018). Particularities of the Education of the Coordination and Acquisition of the Curriculum of Physical Education by Using the Specific Means of Playing Basketball. Revista Românească pentru Educație Multidimensională, 10(4), 217-227. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/83
Stun, D., Sedlacek, J. & Balint, G. (2024). Changes in selected movement abilities through the use of movement games in physical education lessons at the gymnasium level. Journal of Physical Education and Sport (JPES), 24 (issue 12), 2069 - 2076. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2024.12305
Sutapa, P., Pratama, K. W., Rosly, M. M., Ali, S. K. S., & Karakauki, M. (2021). Improving motor skills in early childhood through goal-oriented play activity. Children, 8(11), Article 994. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8110994
Tanasă, A.-R., & Abalașei, B.-A. (2024). Spatial – temporal orientation and balance ability among primary school students: comparative analysis according to gender. Revista Românească Pentru Educație Multidimensională, 16 (2), 515-526. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/16.2/869
Topalska, R., & Rumenov, Y. (2025). Facilitating the visualisation of moving games by implementing augmented reality in primary physical education classes. TEM Journal, 14(1), 816-822. https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM141-72
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai Educatio Artis Gymnasticae
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
