Development of Human Motor Skills and the Promotion of Motivation for Physical Activity

University Centre of Excellence for Studies of Human Motoric at Faculty of Physical Education and Sport

This study is conducted within the University Centre of Excellence for Studies of Human Motoric at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University. The project focuses on research investigating mechanisms that support motivation for participation in physical activity among children and youth. In recent decades, participation in physical activity has been declining globally, including among children and adolescents. Understanding the factors that influence motivation for physical activity is essential for developing effective strategies to support long-term engagement in physical activity. The study aims to contribute to knowledge about the role of physical activity and physical education in promoting children's long-term physical and mental development.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Physical Activity; Physical Inactivity; Motor Development; Cognitive Development; Obesity & Overweight; Physical Literacy
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: E-MOVE - Emotional Movement Program for Physical Education

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 325
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Czechia
  • Czechia
    • Brno, Czechia, Czechia, 635 00
      • ZŠ Laštůvkova
    • Brno, Czechia, Czechia
      • ZŠ Heyrovského
    • Lomnice, Czechia, Czechia, 356 01
      • ZŠ Lomnice
    • Mohelnice, Czechia, Czechia, 789 85
      • ZŠ Mlýnská
    • Pilsen, Czechia, Czechia, 301 00
      • ZŠ Plzeň - Růžovka
    • Prague, Czechia, Czechia, 182 00
      • ZŠ Žernosecká
    • Prague, Czechia, Czechia, 18600
      • ZŠ Lyčkovo náměstí
    • Rudná, Czechia, Czechia
      • ZŠ Rudná
    • Velké Popovice, Czechia, Czechia, 251 69
      • ZŠ Velké Popovice

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children enrolled in the 3rd grade of participating primary schools
• Written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian
• Willingness to participate in study assessments and the school-based intervention

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute illness or injury at the time of enrollment or assessment
• Recovery from illness or injury limiting participation in physical activity
• Chronic medical condition limiting participation in physical activity
• Atypical neurodevelopment or diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder that may affect participation in the intervention or assessments
• Any other condition judged by the investigators to prevent safe participation in study procedures

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control group
Experimental: Interventional 2; intervention 5x a week	Behavioral: E-MOVE - Emotional Movement Program for Physical Education; A school-based physical education intervention delivered through tandem teaching by a physical education teacher and a trained coach five times per week. The program is based on principles of Affective-Reflective Theory (ART) and aims to promote positive affective experiences during physical activity, supporting children's motivation, engagement, and long-term participation in physical activity.
Experimental: Interventional 1; intervention 2x a week	Behavioral: E-MOVE - Emotional Movement Program for Physical Education; A school-based physical education intervention delivered through tandem teaching by a physical education teacher and a trained coach five times per week. The program is based on principles of Affective-Reflective Theory (ART) and aims to promote positive affective experiences during physical activity, supporting children's motivation, engagement, and long-term participation in physical activity.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cardiorespiratory fitness	Cardiorespiratory fitness assessed using the 20-m shuttle run test (Leger test). The outcome was expressed as the number of completed shuttle runs. Higher numbers of completed shuttle runs indicate better cardiorespiratory fitness.	Baseline and annually during the 3-year intervention
Actual Motor Competence	Motor competence assessed using the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA). The Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA) raw score consists of the sum of the skill score and the time score. The skill score and time score each have a maximum of 14 points, yielding a total raw score of 1 to 28. Higher scores indicate better motor competence.	Baseline and annually during the 3-year intervention
Cognitive functions	Selected cognitive functions is assessed using the Woodcock-Johnson cognitive test battery. For the present study, results are recommended to be reported as standard scores, which are age-normed with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Higher scores indicate better cognitive performance relative to age-matched peers.	Baseline and annually during the 3-year intervention
Physical literacy	Physical literacy assessed using the Physical Literacy in Children Questionnaire (PLC-Q). The Physical Literacy in Children Questionnaire (PL-C Quest) consists of 30 items across four domains. Each item is scored on a 1-4-point scale, yielding a total score of 30-120. Higher scores indicate higher self-perceived physical literacy. Thus, higher total scores reflect a higher level of physical literacy.	Baseline and annually during the 3-year intervention
Motivation for physical activity	Motivation for participation in physical activity is assessed using the AFFEXX questionnaire. The Affective Exercise Experiences Questionnaire (AFFEXX) consists of 22 items, each rated on a 1-5-point scale, yielding a total score ranging from 22 to 110. Higher scores indicate higher motivation for physical activity.	Baseline and annually during the 3-year intervention
Body composition	Body composition is assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BODYSTAT Quadscan 4000). The outcome variables included body fat percentage, intracellular water (ICW), and extracellular water (ECW). Higher body fat values indicate greater adiposity. ICW and ECW represent the relative distribution of body water between the intracellular and extracellular compartments, respectively. Body fat was interpreted using age- and sex-specific percentile cut-offs (<2nd percentile = underfat, 2nd to <85th percentile = normal, 85th to <95th percentile = overfat, and ≥95th percentile = obese), whereas ICW and ECW were interpreted relative to age- and sex-specific reference values, as fixed clinical cut-offs are not established for healthy pediatric populations.	Baseline and annually during the 3-year intervention
Physical activity	Physical activity monitored using ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers. Physical activity was objectively assessed using an ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer worn for 7 consecutive days during the week. Data were used to quantify time spent in sedentary behavior, light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA), and vigorous physical activity (VPA). In addition, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was calculated as the sum of moderate and vigorous physical activity. This 7-day ActiGraph protocol is consistent with common practice in pediatric accelerometer studies. The outcomes were expressed as time spent in each intensity category, typically reported in minutes per day. Sedentary time reflects the amount of time spent inactive, whereas LPA, MPA, VPA, and MVPA reflect increasing levels of movement intensity. Higher values of light, moderate, vigorous, or MVPA indicate that the child is more physically active.	Baseline and annually during the 3-year intervention
Perceived Motor Competence	Perceived Motor Competence is assessed using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence (PMSC). The Pictorial Perceived Motor Competence (PMSC) instrument consists of 22 items, with each item rated on a 1-4-point scale. The total score, therefore, ranges from 22 to 88 points. Higher scores indicate higher perceived motor competence.	Baseline and annually during the 3-year intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Charles University, Czech Republic

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 11, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Overweight; Obesity; Motor Activity; Sedentary Behavior
• Other Study ID Numbers: 050824

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF; ANALYTIC_CODE; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No