The perspective of this article is that the purpose of the elementary physical education program is the development of a physically active lifestyle. We discuss the relative contribution of the development of motor skills, fitness, content related to encouraging participation, and the affective goals of the program to the development of a…

Although many recent studies have shown that the lack of physical activity is one of the major causes of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease among children and adolescents, few studies have shown the connection between the lack of physical education and the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle. However, it is clear that physical education…

The study explored behavioral procedures for developing the skill of standing from a chair for a severely mentally retarded 11-year-old nonambulatory girl and an 86-year-old man residing in a nursing home for the elderly. Functional assessment and programing determined the specific instructional needs of each S. A changing criterion design was…

The purpose of this article is to share with teachers selected information from the literature of motor learning which may stimulate thinking and generate interest in research on the questions pertinent to the problem of teaching game skills. (JD)

Motor skill acquisition of 12 Ss with Down syndrome on a pursuit tracking task was compared to retarded Ss without Down syndrome and nonretarded Ss matched for functional age and chronological age (CA). Ss with Down syndrome did not respond to directional probability in the same manner as retarded or nonretarded Ss. (Author/CL)

The generality and specificity of motor ability theory is investigated in this article. Implications for physical educators and coaches, in relation to application of motor ability and motor learning theories to physical skill acquisition, are offered. (DF)

The article offers guidelines for involving children and adults with severe disabilities in motor activities and sports. Stressed are participation as fun, age appropriateness, functionality of new skills, and the value of partial participation. (DB)

A variety of educational gymnastics, games, and sports tasks geared toward young children are described. They focus on jumping, taking weight on various body parts, large apparatus movement, ball skills, striking skills, throwing and catching skills, and travelling with a ball. Suggestions are also presented regarding the preschool handicapped…

Presents activities that physical educators can use to help young students who are still learning basic ball control skills. Students use a pinky ball (a small, low-bounce rubber ball) to stay on task while improving ball control skills. Games include seven-up, errors, box ball, and hit the coin. (SM)

A theory of infant skill acquisition was supported by observations, over a six-week period, of the bouncing activity of eight infants while they were supported in a harness assembly. Observed three stages of activity: an initial assembly stage, when movement was irregular and variable in period; a tuning phase of more periodic movement; a final…

Presents a success-management model for motivated learning which provides physical education teachers a framework for enhancing students' desire to work hard and maximize skill learning. The model's three phases are: basic instruction to help students begin learning skills; change in the motivational climate from task to ego orientation, with…

Theoretical and practical issues related to the neuromotor control of a golf swing are presented in this paper. The typical strategy for golf training consists of high volume repetition with an emphasis on a large variety of isolated swing characteristics. The student is frequently instructed to maintain consistent performance in each swing with…

The purposes of this study were to: (a) examine differences within specific kinematic variables and ball velocity associated with developmental component levels of step and trunk action (Roberton & Halverson, 1984), and (b) if the differences in kinematic variables were significantly associated with the differences in component levels, determine…

At the Edna A. Hill Preschool Laboratories at the University of Kansas, children between the ages of two and five are being taught two kinds of precise skills, some to prepare them for the academic world and others to enable them to care for themselves more independently. Behavior analysis and application of reinforcement principles make earlier…

Eight weeks of instruction that included 120 minutes of guided practice in the overarm throw did not significantly change the ball velocities of kindergarten children when compared to two groups with no formal throwing experience. (Author)