The Effect of Task Constraints Manipulation on Motor Skill Learning in Children

Acquisition of a skill is affected by constraints. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of task constraints manipulation on motor skill learning in children.
This quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design was conducted on 20 primary school children of 10-12 years of age. The subjects were selected through convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups (training with scaled equipment and standard equipment). Acquisition phase included 5 sessions and each session consisted of 50 trials. Tests were performed with ball sizes of 5, 6, and 7 and ring height of 2.60 m, 2.80 m, and 3.05 m, respectively. Transfer test was performed 10 minutes after the last trial on the last day of acquisition phase using a size 6 ball. The retention test was conducted 24 hours after the last session of acquisition. Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA, and paired and independent t-test at the significance level of 0.05.
Significant differences were not found between the 2 groups in terms of accuracy in the retention and transfer tests (P > 0.05). However, the pattern of throwing with scaled equipment was better in the practice group compared to the standard group.
According the results of this study, it can be concluded that the use of scaled equipment leads to better learning of movement pattern in children.