Mao HASHIMOTO

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether children’s motor competence will increase by endurance running in physical education classes using ICT. The heart rate (HR) during endurance running was measured using a wristwatch-type HR sensor (P360 manufactured by Polar) for 23 fifth grade elementary school children. The endurance running took place at 60% HRmax (114-133 bpm) and 70 % HRmax (133-152 bpm), each of them performed four times for a total of eight times. The HR value for each person (the background color of the displayed numbers change depending on the HR value) was displayed on the projector so they could be shared throughout the class. Before class, the children understood the effects and meanings of reaching the target HR. After endurance running, the children answered the rate of perceived exertion (RPE), Feeling Scale (FS), and motor competence questionnaires. The children performed a t-test to determine if there was a difference in the average values of HR, RPE, and FS, depending on the target. In addition, the mean value of motor competences was analyzed by using a repeated measures one-way ANOVA. As a result, the HR mean value when the target was 60 % HRmax (114-133 bpm) was 135.4 ± 12.86 bpm, and the HR mean value when the target was 70 % HRmax (133-152 bpm) was 145.8 ± 7.26 bpm; there was a significant difference between the two. The RPE was 1.94 ± 0.79 and 2.53 ± 1.13, also exhibiting a significant difference. No significant difference was found in the FS, and the children did not have negative feelings due to the difference in goals. As a result of analyzing the variance, there was no significant difference found between the mean values of motor competence; however, the value on the last day was the highest, and indicating a possibility that the children’s motor competence increased. In addition, the score of motor competence was higher than the score of some previous studies, so it is possible that the practice conducted in this study served as a practical class to enhance the children’s motor competence. Therefore, in the endurance running class of elementary school, it is presumed that learning activities using ICT are effective in enhancing children’s motor competence.

This study investigated the effects of a coordination exercise program on quantitative and qualitative changes of throwing and catching ability with the subjects of 5 and 6-year-old 30 preschool children. A4-week control period and a 4-week exercise period were separately set. The exercise program was conducted for 40 minutes a day following the instruction guidance, during 8 days over 4 weeks. The subjects performed motion capacity tests (standing broad jump, side jump) and ball handling tests (control, catching,tennis ball handling) in each period. We evaluated the throwing and catching motions by using five typical developmental stages of motion patterns. As the results, we found a statistically significant increase in the side jump, catching, tennis ball handling and score evaluation for throwing and catching motions in the exercise period compared to the control period. The same results were obtained in both genders. These results suggested that, the coordination exercise program focused on basic ball handling technique may be beneficial to enhance the agility and ball handling capacity in preschool boys and girls aged 5-6, who need an adequate exercise instruction to improve their throwing and catching motions.