Sex Differences and Performance Evaluation in Preschool Athletic Events
A Study from the Olympic Festival of Kindergartens in Croatia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35469/ak.2025.535Keywords:
preschool children, motor performance, athletic events, sex differences, evaluation scaleAbstract
This study examined sex differences in motor performance among preschool children and proposed a preliminary, norm-referenced evaluation scale for selected athletic disciplines within the Olympic Festival of Kindergartens. The sample consisted of 120 children (60 boys and 60 girls), approximately six years of age, representing the best-performing participants from county-level competitions conducted between 2007 and 2017. Motor performance was assessed in ball throwing, standing long jump, and the 50-m sprint. Sex differences were analysed using the independent samples t-test with effect sizes reported as Cohen’s d. Boys achieved significantly better results in ball throwing (t(118) = 6.51, p < 0.001, d = 1.19) and the 50-m sprint (t(118) = −2.07, p = 0.041, d = −0.38), indicating large and small-to-moderate effects, respectively. No significant sex difference was observed in the standing long jump (t(118) = 0.64, p = 0.521, d = 0.12). Comparisons with national datasets revealed similar performance patterns, confirming earlier findings of sex-related differences in explosive strength and speed during early childhood. The proposed five-level evaluation scale, derived from competitive performance distributions, provides a practical assessment framework for use in organized preschool sport settings. Given the selective nature of the sample and the absence of formal psychometric validation, the scale should be considered preliminary and applicable primarily to physically active preschool children participating in competitive events.
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