Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research

Fun game–based learning improves gross motor skills in early primary school children

Ahmad Muttaqin Darussalam, Sugiharto Sugiharto, Sapto Adi — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Background: Children who face difficulties in gross motor skill development may withdraw from physical activities, experience low self-esteem, and suffer from social anxiety. Physical education plays a vital role in fostering gross motor development, especially when delivered through enjoyable and engaging activities such as fun games.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of fun game–based learning on the development of gross motor skills in early primary school children.

Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group. A total of 36 second-grade students from SDIT Mutiara Hati in Malang participated in this study. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: a control group, a group-based fun games intervention, and an individual-based fun games intervention. The interventions were implemented three times a week for 30 minutes over a period of seven weeks. Gross motor skills were measured before and after the intervention using the Test of Gross Motor Development–Third Edition (TGMD-3), a reliable and validated instrument. Data were analyzed using homogeneity and normality tests, paired-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's HSD post hoc tests, with a significance level set at p < 0.05 (SPSS version 25).

Results: Both the individual and group fun game–based learning interventions produced significant improvements in gross motor skills compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, a significant difference was found between the two intervention types, indicating that the mode of fun game delivery influences outcomes (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Fun game–based learning, whether delivered individually or in groups, effectively enhances gross motor skills among early primary school children. Additionally, individual fun game–based learning demonstrated a significantly greater improvement compared to group-based learning.

Immediate effect of thoracic spinal manipulation versus passive stretching on upper trapezius pain in university students: A randomized controlled trial

Sherin Nada Salsabila, Adnan Faris Naufal — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Background: Pain disorders in the upper trapezius muscle are often experienced by students due to non-ergonomic postures and excessive duration of device use. Interventions such as spinal manipulation and stretching exercises are non-invasive interventions often used to reduce pain and improve muscle function.

Objectives: This study compares the effectiveness of two interventions in reducing trapezius muscle pain among university students.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial involved 40 physiotherapy students divided equally into two intervention groups. Group I received thoracic spinal manipulation, and Group II received passive stretching. Each intervention was administered in a single 15-minute session. Pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) before and immediately after treatment. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test for within-group comparisons and the Mann–Whitney U test for between-group analysis, with an alpha level of 0.05.

Results: The Wilcoxon test revealed a significant decrease in pain within both groups (Group I: median pre 4.5 [3.63–5] to post 2.5 [1.50–3.38], p = 0.000, r = 0.879; Group II: median pre 4.25 [3–5] to post 1 [0.13–3], p = 0.000, r = 0.84), indicating a significant effect of both interventions. The Mann–Whitney U test showed no statistically significant difference in pain reduction between the two groups (median pain difference = 2 [1–3] for both, U = 186.5, Z = –0.375, p = 0.707, r = 0.06).

Conclusions: Both thoracic spinal manipulation and passive stretching were effective in reducing upper trapezius pain immediately after a single session, but no significant difference was found between the two interventions. These findings suggest that both approaches provide comparable short-term benefits; however, further research with larger samples, multiple sessions, and more extended follow-up periods is needed to confirm their long-term efficacy.

Impact of five-cone and ladder drill training on agility among U15 football athletes

Pupuh Harya Prembanyu, Agus Wiyanto, Setiyawan Setiyawan — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Background: Although it may seem simple, soccer has complex characteristics, which is why many children are attracted to training at soccer schools. Agility is a crucial aspect of the game, as it enables a player to move quickly, evade opponents, and control the ball effectively. At the Pemalang Regency Bina Talenta Soccer School (SSB), agility training is not conducted optimally and has not been implemented systematically with effective methods. Therefore, exercises such as the five-cone and ladder drills need to be implemented to improve player agility more effectively.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the impact of five-cone and ladder drill training on the agility of U15 football athletes.

Methods: This study used a quantitative descriptive method with a quasi-experimental approach. The experimental design was a pretest-posttest in two groups. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling with 20 players participating in a four-week training program. The instrument to measure agility was the Illinois Agility Test, with a validity level of r = 0.87. The measurement data were analyzed using a difference test with the help of SPSS software version 29.0.

Results: The five-cone drill and the ladder drill had a significant effect on agility, as both exercises had a significance value of <0.05. The five-cone drill was more effective than the ladder drill. This was due to the difference in scores between the five-cone drill, which increased by 1.04, and the ladder drill, which increased by 0.84.

Conclusions: Both training methods are effective in improving agility and can be integrated into school-based football training programs. Furthermore, the results of implementing these methods can enhance player performance and provide a valuable source of new knowledge for future researchers on agility in SSB players.

Psychosocial predictors of academic achievement in physical education among Indonesian university students: Testing the mediating role of mental toughness

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Background: Academic performance in this context is conceptualized holistically, encompassing the integration of cognitive, affective, psychomotor, and physical achievements. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, the study posits that physical activity interest and social skills serve as predictors of both mental toughness and academic outcomes.

Objectives: This study examines the mediating role of mental toughness in the relationship between physical activity interest, social skills, and academic performance among university students enrolled in physical education programs.

Methods: A quantitative approach was employed, involving the administration of structured questionnaires to 235 active students. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling with a Partial Least Squares approach to assess construct validity and the relationships among variables.

Results: The results reveal that interest in physical activity and social skills has a significant influence on both mental toughness and academic performance. However, mental toughness did not serve as a substantial mediator within the proposed model.

Conclusions:

These findings underscore the critical direct roles of affective and social factors in predicting academic success in physical education contexts. Theoretically, this study clarifies the functional position of mental toughness, while practically, it promotes the development of instructional strategies that enhance intrinsic motivation and collaborative skills within physical education curricula.

Optimising physiological recovery after high-intensity training: A combined approach of hydrotherapy, contrast bath, and full-body massage in futsal players

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Background: Efficient recovery after high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and minimizing the risk of injury.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of combining hydrotherapy contrast baths and full-body massage in accelerating physiological recovery after a HIIT session, compared to the application of a single method.

Methods: This study employed a pre–post quasi-experimental design with three parallel groups (n = 45; 15 participants per group) to analyze the effectiveness of hydrotherapy combined with whole-body massage compared with each method applied separately. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions: (1) hydrotherapy contrast bath only, (2) full-body massage only, and (3) a combined intervention using both techniques. Physiological recovery was assessed using validated instruments, including heart rate monitors for heart rate recovery (HRR), portable lactate analysers for blood lactate concentration, and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for perceived muscle soreness. Data were analysed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, paired-sample t-test, and One-Way ANOVA.

Results: The findings demonstrated that the combined hydrotherapy–massage protocol resulted in greater improvements than the single-method groups, particularly in lactate reduction (e.g., -3.1 ± 0.8 mmol/L vs. - 1.9 ± 0.7 mmol/L and - 2.0 ± 0.6 mmol/L; p<0.05) and faster HRR. Participants in the combined group also reported significantly lower muscle soreness (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

This suggests that integrating contrast bath hydrotherapy with full-body massage enhances circulation, accelerates metabolic waste clearance, and improves subjective recovery following HIIT. Future studies are recommended to include larger samples, compare different hydrotherapy temperatures, or examine long-term adaptations from repeated recovery sessions.

Performance anxiety among student table tennis players

Yumna Wahyuningsih, Ibnu Fatkhu Royana, Galih Dwi Pradipta — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Background: Anxiety is a common psychological factor that significantly affects athletic performance, especially in competitive settings. Student-athletes face dual pressures from academic responsibilities and athletic commitments, making them vulnerable to performance anxiety that can impair focus, concentration, and decision-making.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze performance anxiety among table tennis athletes in the Student Activity Unit (UKM) of Universitas PGRI Semarang and to examine differences in performance evaluation outcomes based on sources from internal and external factors.

Methods: A comparative quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach was used. Fifty athletes participated (n=25 assessed by internal factors, n=25 assessed by external factors). Anxiety/performance was measured using a self-report questionnaire consisting of 15 Likert-scale items (1-5 scale) validated by three sport psychology experts. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA after confirming normality (Shapiro-Wilk test) and homogeneity (Levene's test).

Results: The internal group had a higher mean score (M = 3.64, SD = 0.86) compared to the external group (M = 3.07, SD = 0.86). ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference, F(1,48) = 4.92, p = 0.031, η² = 0.093, with an estimated Cohen's d of approximately 0.66, indicating a medium effect size. These findings indicate that anxiety factors affect athletes' performance, with internal factors tending to score higher than external factors.

Conclusions:

This study concludes that anxiety affects the performance of table tennis athletes in the Student Activity Unit (UKM) at Universitas PGRI Semarang. Specifically, internal factors such as self-confidence and perfectionism have been proven to have a greater impact than external factors.

Analyzing the promotion of social skills and values in physical education texts and programmes

Loubna Belabbes, Omar Ben Rakaa, Moulay Smail Hafidi Alaoui — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Background: Global education systems increasingly emphasize holistic development by integrating social skills and ethical values into curricula, with physical education playing a central role in shaping students' cognitive, emotional, and civic competencies.

Objectives: This study examines how educational programs and policy documents promote social skills (e.g., empathy, communication, collaboration, autonomy) and ethical principles, with particular attention to the contribution of physical education in fostering academic achievement and responsible citizenship.

Methods: A structured literature review was conducted, applying predefined eligibility criteria and guided by socio-emotional learning and self-determination theory. Forty-five academic and institutional texts (published between 2013 and 2023), including frameworks from UNESCO and the Moroccan Ministry of Education, as well as programs such as PATHS and Second Step, were analyzed across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts, with a primary focus on Morocco.

Results: Communication (11.11%; 5/45), autonomy (8.89%; 4/45), and cooperation (8.89%; 4/45) emerged as the most frequently emphasized competencies in both Moroccan and international curricula. Physical education was found to reinforce resilience, leadership, and collaborative skills, whereas empathy (4.44%; 2/45) remained underrepresented—reflecting the prevailing prioritization of technical rather than socio-emotional competencies. Implementation remains constrained by structural barriers, including limited resources and cultural misalignment, despite the legislative support of Morocco's framework law 51-17.

Conclusions:

Embedding social skills within physical education supports students' holistic development. Achieving meaningful implementation requires: (1) short-term alignment of system-level policies and teacher training, and (2) long-term cultural adaptation of programs supported by measurable monitoring indicators.