Sadra Medical Journal

The Effect of Task Constraints on the Accuracy of Perceived Motor Competence in Children’s Ball Skills

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Younes Mosadegh 1
Shahab Parvinpour 2
Abbas Bahram 2
Mohsen Shafizadeh 3

1 Department of Physical Education, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Health and Wellbeing, College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom

https://doi.org/10.30476/smsj.2026.107195.1641
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive capacity develops from childhood through adolescence and adulthood, influencing an individual’s ability to evaluate self-perception. The present study aimed to evaluate children’s perceptual accuracy regarding ball motor skills prior to the actual execution of these skills using different types of balls.
Methods: The participants comprised 64 children (33 boys and 31 girls) aged 6, 7, and 8 years, recruited from kindergartens and schools in Bandar Anzali during 2024. Children’s perceived motor competence was assessed using Almeida’s Maximum Performance Estimation method, while actual motor competence was evaluated through the performance of ball skills including underhand and overhand throwing, two-handed catching, one-handed dribbling, and kicking a stationary ball. Statistical analyses were conducted using a mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc tests at a significance level of 0.05, using SPSS software, version 27.
Results: The results of the mixed ANOVA for the five different tasks revealed significant differences in performance between the tennis ball and the handball in the underhand throw (P<0.001) and one-handed dribbling tasks (P<0.001). No significant differences were observed for the other tasks (P>0.05). Age had a significant effect on underhand throwing (P<0.001), overhand throwing (P<0.001), one-handed dribbling (P<0.001), and kicking a stationary ball (P=0.001), but had no significant effect on two-handed catching (P=0.47). Sex also had a significant effect on underhand throwing (P<0.001), overhand throwing (P<0.001), and two-handed catching (P<0.001), while no significant effects were found for one-handed dribbling (P=0.37) or kicking a stationary ball (P=0.30).
Conclusion: The findings indicated that children possess the ability to perceive variations in ball size when performing certain motor tasks. Moreover, this perceptual ability was modulated by age and sex, underscoring the importance of considering these factors in research on children’s ball skill development.

Keywords

Motor Skills
Self Concept
Self Perception
Mental Competency
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Sadra Medical Journal
Volume 14, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 420-433

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