OBJECTIVES:The aims of this study were to examine whether the importance of physical activity and the likelihood of experiencing effects of physical activity changed between 14 and 17 years, and whether perceptions of importance and likelihood of physical activity in early adolescence align with aerobic fitness in late adolescence. METHODS:Participants participated in the study at the age of 14 and then again at 17. They reported via survey at both time points on the likelihood and importance of being physically active over the next year, completing two 15-item questionnaires. Cardiovascular endurance was measured in a laboratory setting on a bicycle ergometer using the PWC170 (Physical Working Capacity 170) at age 17 years. RESULTS:A total of 1056 participants (554 girls and 502 boys) from the Raine Study Generation 2 (Gen2) took part. Their rating of the importance and likelihood towards physical activity was mainly influenced by intrinsic health (e.g., fit and healthy, losing weight, improving appearance) and social factors (e.g., having fun, spending time with friends) compared to extrinsic factors (e.g., change to win/compete, others making fun of them). Males positively rated more extrinsic factors compared to the females, with the rating of intrinsic factors such as 'fit and healthy' and 'losing weight' stable between 14 and 17 years. 'Appearance' was the only factor that increased in importance at 17 years compared to 14 years of age. CONCLUSION:Greater awareness of the factors that young adolescents consider as important and likely for their physical activity is important. These include having fun, spending time with friends and keeping fit and healthy. Sport coaches, physical education teachers and health promotion campaigns could consider targeted interventions focusing on these factors as an effective way of engaging youth.

The right to play sport fairly and safely is universally recognized. Consequently, there have always been regulations about competition in which people may compete - Male, Female, under-age, certain weight groups, etc. The female category has been traditionally open only to biological female athletes. Recent societal shifts in gender theory proclaim gender as a fluid concept, saying that a person’s gender identity has greater importance than birth sex. Transwomen athletes, born male but identifying as women, demand it is their human right to play in the female category. Following IOC guidance, many sports assented to the change. This means that in a physical contest, biological females are pitted against one special group of biological males, those who identify as women. Female athletes who miss team selection or lose to a transwoman have no other category in which to play. Can transgender inclusion co-exist with fairness, physical safety, and integrity in women’s sport? Is erasure of purely female achievements and records acceptable? Are rewards, fame, affirmative programs, and sporting careers for females not important? Does authentic female sport cease to exist? What are solutions? This text presents the bio-physiological-sport science research that dismantles the myth that there is no performance advantage of transitioned transwomen athletes. It also explores the legal framework protecting sex-divided sport. The focus is on elite competition. There are also implications for grass roots and pre-pubertal children in sport. This text provides essential background for athletes, sports administrators, the public, and LGBT+ communities to debate this hot button issue with openness and respect.

Outdoor Education has evolved as a learning area in Western Australia over many years. In this paper we document historical elements of an investigation into the nature and scope of Outdoor Education in Western Australia. Previous investigations conducted by other researchers on the nature and scope of Outdoor Education focused on Victoria, South Australia, and New Zealand guided the design and conduct of this study. We examine the introduction of the Outdoor Education course offered as an option in the Western Australian Certificate of Education. We provide signposts of significant events with consideration of the secondary and tertiary education settings. Outdoor Education, in its many formats, has a strong historical presence in Western Australia and continues to hold great potential within the curriculum.

Purpose: Adolescent perceptions of their physical self-worth (PSW) and the component domains draw upon physical attributes, such as motor competence, physical fitness, and self-perceptions, which in turn enhance the desire to engage in physical activity. Whilst these relationships have been researched in populations with typical motor development, little is known of the interplay of these contributors to PSW with those with low motor competence (LMC). Even less is known of how importance placed on particular physical subdomains may be used by the adolescent with LMC to mitigate negative effects on their perceptions of PSW. Method: Thirty-four adolescents with low motor competence, 25 boys and 9 girls (Mage = 13.89 yrs, SD = 1.49), completed the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development (MAND), the Children’s Physical Self-Perception Questionnaire (C-PSPP) and a range of physical fitness tests. Results: All self-perception subdomain score was lower than importance ratings. Physical fitness measures were also low but were not significantly associated with PSW. However, the higher importance scores relative to physical self-perceptions resulted in greater discrepancy scores in all subdomains. Conclusion: Adolescents with LMC have low PSW, and low self-perceptions relative to importance ratings for most physical self-subdomains. These discrepancies, rather than actual fitness, potentially reduce their motivation to be physically active.

Introduction/Background: In 2016, the Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ) was developed in Australia. The AMCQ was developed to assess perceived motor competence in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years. The 26 items represent four factors: participation in physical activity and sports, activities of daily living, public performance, and peer comparison. Aims/Objectives: Currently, no validated German-language self-report screening instrument exists for assessing perceived motor competence among adolescents. This study aimed to validate the German version of the AMCQ (AMCQ-GER). Methods/Approach: The German translation’s factor structure and psychometric properties were analyzed based on a community sample of 635 healthy children and adolescents between 10 and 18 years of age (12.9 ± 2.31 years, 321 boys and 312 girls) and 100 healthy young adults between 19 and 30 years of age (23.0 ± 2.92 years, 49 men and 51 women). The previously validated cutoff score of ≤83 out of 104 was used to group the sample into high and low motor competence. Results: The mean AMCQ-GER score was 84.9 (SD = 8.59), and 38.8% of the participants identified with low motor competence. The principle component analysis revealed clear evidence for a three-factorial structure comprising physical activity and sports, general clumsiness, and activities of daily living (with an explained variance of 29.2%). Reliability for all scales was excellent, with a McDonald’s ϖ of at least .70. The overall conclusion of the Rasch analysis supported the confirmatory factor analysis, although with an overall smaller number of items (18 instead of 26). The AMCQ-GER was positively correlated with age (.26**) and participation in organized club sports (.19**). It was negatively correlated with body mass index (−.23**) and school grade in physical activity (−.40**). Conclusions/Relevance: Our rigorous validation protocol has generated a remarkable reproduction of the AMCQ in German. These results suggest that the language and structure of the questionnaire is appropriate for German-speaking countries.

Although suboptimal bone health has been reported in children and adolescents with low motor competence (LMC), it is not known whether such deficits are present at the time of peak bone mass. We examined the impact of LMC on bone mineral density (BMD) in 1043 participants (484 females) from the Raine Cohort Study. Participants had motor competence assessed using the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development at 10, 14, and 17 years, and a whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan at 20 years. Bone loading from physical activity was estimated from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire at the age of 17 years. The association between LMC and BMD was determined using general linear models that controlled for sex, age, body mass index, vitamin D status, and prior bone loading. Results indicated LMC status (present in 29.6% males and 21.9% females) was associated with a 1.8% to 2.6% decrease in BMD at all load-bearing bone sites. Assessment by sex showed that the association was mainly in males. Osteogenic potential of physical activity was associated with increased BMD dependent on sex and LMC status, with males with LMC showing a reduced effect from increasing bone loading. As such, although engagement in osteogenic physical activity is associated with BMD, other factors involved in physical activity, eg, diversity, movement quality, may also contribute to BMD differences based upon LMC status. The finding of lower peak bone mass for individuals with LMC may reflect a higher risk of osteoporosis, especially for males; however, further research is required. (c) 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Background Parent support influences adolescent’s social-emotional well-being. One factor that may influence parent’s perception of support is their child’s level of motor competence. Aim The purpose of this study was to explore mothers’ experience of providing support for the health of adolescents with low motor competence physical and emotional development. Methods A phenomenological approach was used to guide this study. After initial screening, five one-on-one interviews with mothers of adolescents aged 12–16 years were conducted. Results Analysis of the interviews identified five themes of ‘supportive building blocks’, ‘building achievement and commitment,’ ‘building mechanisms for future support’ ‘building stability in relationships’ and ‘building confidence and a sense of autonomy’. Mother’s awareness of their child’s motor difficulties resulted in their active provision of alternative strategies for their child by building self-confidence and seeking support from health professionals. Conclusion Mothers were aware of their child’s inadequacies and actively sought support to help with their development. Support services that recognise low motor competence could better help mothers support their adolescent’s development. One implication arising from this study is the importance of using multi-disciplinarian teams such as occupational therapist, exercise physiologist and parents to help children with low motor competence.

Objective: Evidence from adult literature shows the involvement of cortical grey matter areas of the frontoparietal lobe and the white matter bundle, the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) in motor planning. This is yet to be confirmed in children. Method: A multimodal study was designed to probe the neurostructural basis of childhood motor planning. Behavioural (motor planning), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) data were acquired from 19 boys aged 8-11 years. Motor planning was assessed using the one and two colour sequences of the octagon task. The MRI data were preprocessed and analysed using FreeSurfer 6.0. Cortical thickness and cortical surface area were extracted from the caudal middle frontal gyrus (MFG), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), precentral gyrus (PcG), supramarginal gyrus (SMG), superior parietal lobe (SPL) and the inferior parietal lobe (IPL) using the Desikan-Killiany atlas. The DWI data were preprocessed and analysed using ExploreDTI 4.8.6 and the white matter tract, the SLF was reconstructed. Results: Motor planning of the two colour sequence was associated with cortical thickness of the bilateral MFG and left SFG, PcG, IPL and SPL. The right SLF was related to motor planning for the two colour sequence as well as with the left cortical thickness of the SFG. Conclusion: Altogether, morphology within frontodorsal circuity, and the white matter bundles that support communication between them, may be associated with individual differences in childhood motor planning.

OBJECTIVES:Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) compromises bone health purportedly due to lower levels of physical activity. The potential of an exercise intervention to improve bone health parameters in adolescents with DCD has not previously been studied. This study thus aimed to determine the impact of a multimodal exercise intervention on bone health in this population at-risk of secondary osteoporosis.METHODS:Twenty-eight adolescents (17 male, 11 female) aged between 12-17 years (Mage=14.1) with DCD participated in a twice weekly, 13-week generalised multimodal exercise intervention. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans of the tibia (4% and 66%) were performed over a six month period. Generalised estimating equations were used to examine the impact of fitness measures on bone parameters over time.RESULTS:An overall improvement trend was observed for bone health, with significant increases at the 66% tibial site for bone mass (4.12% increase, dcohen=0.23, p=0.010) and cortical area (5.42% increase, η2 =12.09, p=0.014). Lower body fitness measures were significantly associated with improvements in bone health parameters, tempered by the degree of motor impairment.CONCLUSION:A multimodal exercise intervention may be effective in improving bone health of adolescents with DCD. Given the impact of motor impairments, gains may be greater over an extended period of study.

Background: Poor motor skills are an increasing issue for adolescents in our local communities. In regional Victoria, almost 20% of children starting school in 2018 were considered at risk or developmentally vulnerable in the domain of physical health and wellbeing.Purpose: The aim of the current study was to examine factors (how adolescents perceive their fine and gross motor skills, activities of daily living, comparison to peers) of motor competence that may be important to adolescents in regional Victoria, Australia, using the Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ).Methods: A sample of 183 Australian adolescents ([138 females (M-age( )= 15.59 years,SD = 1.56); 45 males, (M-age( )= 15.82 years,SD = 1.95); 12-18 years old] completed the AMCQ.Results: The mean AMCQ score was 87.86 (SD = 7.55), with no significant difference between males (M= 89.67SD = 7.29) and females [M= 87.28SD = 7.56;t(181 = 1.86p=.065)]. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA), extracted five factors (Eiqenvalue of 1.389) explaining 43.46% of variance, representing,Ball Skills and Kinesthesis; Activities of Daily Living; Fine Motor and Gross Motor; Proprioception and Exteroception; Public Performance.Conclusion: The results highlight key factors important in describing an adolescent's motor competence within regional Victoria. With physical health a priority in local communities, understanding these factors is an important first, that which may inform development of physical activity interventions for adolescents.

Objectives: To describe peripheral long bone material and structural differences in youth at risk of secondary osteoporosis across disease-specific profiles. Methods: Upper- and lower limbs of children and adolescents were scanned at 4% distal and 66% mid-shaft sites using peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography sub-categorised as (1) increased risk of secondary osteoporosis (neuromuscular disorders; chronic diseases; endocrine diseases; inborn errors of metabolism; iatrogenic conditions), (2) low motor competence and (3) non-affected controls. Results: Children with disease-specific profiles showed a range of bone deficits compared to the control group with these predominantly indicated for neuromuscular disorders, chronic diseases and low motor competence. Deficits between upper arm and lower leg long bone parameters were different for disease-specific profiles compared to the control group. Endocortical radius, muscle area, and mid-cortical ring density were not significantly different for any disease-specific profile compared to the control group for any bone sites. Conclusions: Neuromuscular disorders, chronic diseases and low motor competence have a strong correlation to bone health for appendicular bone parameters in youth, suggesting a critical mechanical loading influence which may differ specific to disease profile. As mechanical loading effects are observed in regional bone analyses, targeted exercise interventions to improve bone strength should be implemented to examine if this is effective in reducing the risk of secondary osteoporosis in youth.

Background: Adolescence is a particularly important time for the development of self-perceptions and identity as many environmental and personal factors are influential. One relatively unexplored factor is level of motor competence. Aim: To examine the relationship between identity health and self-perceptions in male and female adolescents with low motor competence (LMC) compared to typically developing (TD) adolescents. Method: Adolescents (N = 160, 64.4% males, M-age = 14.45 yrs., SD = 0.75) completed the Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ), Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA), and Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (SPPA). Based on the AMCQ score, the sample was grouped into LMC and TD. Pearson's product moment correlations between the AIDA and SPPA subscales were derived for gender, competence groups, and gender x competence sub-groups. Results: Overall, males had lower AIDA scores (healthier identity) than the females and significant associations with all self-perception domains. For females, only scholastic and social competence, physical appearance, behavioural conduct, close friendship and Global Self-worth (GSW) domains were significantly related to their AIDA score. The adolescents in the LMC group had higher AIDA scores (less-healthier identity) and fewer self-perception domains [scholastic competence, physical appearance, behavioural conduct, close friendships and GSW] were associated to their AIDA scores. For the TD group, all self-perception domains were significantly correlated with their AIDA scores. When grouped by gender and motor competence, the TD males had the healthiest identity scores which were strongly associated with all self-perception subdomains. For males with LMC, only scholastic competence, behavioural conduct and GSW domains were significantly related with their identity score. Females from both competence groups reported significant associations between physical appearance, close friendships, behavioural conduct, and social competence domains with their identity scores. Scholastic competence was also significantly associated with identity only for females with LMC. Conclusion: Positive self-perceptions across a range of domains are associated with a healthier identity, but differ according to level of motor competence and gender. For those with LMC, the self-perception subdomains unrelated to physical activity and sport, such as school-based aspects were associated with a healthier identity. These findings should guide school based interventions to provide support in these domains in order to strengthen self-worth and identity health.

Purpose of ReviewStrong links exist in children and adolescents with high motor competence between physical activity level, physical fitness and self-concept. Are similar associations also evident for those with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and do they vary with age or between genders?Recent FindingsLow levels of physical activity and fitness have been identified in those with DCD, but self-concept was not considered in these studies. The picture is muddied by the many terms used to investigate the self. We identified that self-concept is not necessarily lower in those with DCD if they do not believe physical prowess is important. However, gender- and age-related differences were identified.SummaryFor those with DCD, even though physical self-perceptions are low, their general self-concept is not necessarily diminished. By adolescence, broader sources of information are drawn upon to inform self-concept and unimportant influences disregarded. Future research should seek to understand these influences in order to better support the development of a healthy self-concept.