Fundamental

Concepts in Motor
Development
CHRISTOPHER J. SOLE, PHD, CSCS
THE CITADEL - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
EXERCISE, AND SPORT SCIENCE
EXSC 200 & PHED 235
SPRING 2017
 Assigned
Date Topic Due
Reading
Introduction and
Week 1 Jan 11 & 13 Get Text Book!
Expectations
Week 2 Jan 18 & 20 Intro to Motor Dev. Chapters 1&2
Jan 23, 25, &
Week 3 Motion & Stability Chapter 3
27
Jan 30, Feb 1 Review & Exam 1:
Week 4 Study!
&3 Chapters 1,2, & 3
Growth, Maturation, &
Week 5 Feb 6, 8, & 10 Chapter 4
Aging
Feb 13, 15 & Article Review 1
Week 6 Dev. of Body Systems Chapter 5
17 (2/17)
Feb 20, 22 &
Week 7 Early Motor Dev. Chapter 6
24
Feb 27, Mar 1 Review & Exam 2:
Week 8 Study!
&3 Chapters 4,5,& 6
Week 9 Mar 6, 8, & 10 Human Locomotion Chapter 7
Week Ballistic & Manipulative Article Review 2
Mar 13 & 15 Chapters 8 & 9
10 Skills (2/15)
Week Mar 20, 22, & Review & Exam 3:
Study!
11 24 Chapters 7,8 & 9
Week
Spring Break!
12
Week Social & Cultural
Apr 3, 5, & 7 Chapter 12
13 Constraints
Week Apr 10, 12, & Knowledge as a
Chapter 14
14 14 Constraint
Week April 17, 19, & Long-term Athlete Balyi, 2004; Llyod Article Review 3
15 21 Development & Oliver, 2012 (4/21)
Week Review & Final Exam
April 24 & 27 Cumulative
16 (4/27)
 Assigned
Date Topic Due
Reading
Introduction and
Week 1 Jan 12 Get Text Book!
Expectations
Week 2 Jan 17 & 19 Intro to Motor Dev. Chapters 1&2
Week 3 Jan 24 & 26 Motion & Stability Chapter 3
Review & Exam 1:
Week 4 Jan 31 & Feb 2 Study!
Chapters 1,2, & 3
Growth, Maturation, &
Week 5 Feb 7 & 9 Chapter 4
Aging
Article Review 1
Week 6 Feb 14 & 16 Dev. of Body Systems Chapter 5
(2/16)
Week 7 Feb 21 & 23 Early Motor Dev. Chapter 6
Review & Exam 2:
Week 8 Feb 28 & Mar 2 Study!
Chapters 4,5,& 6
Week 9 Mar 7 & 9 Human Locomotion Chapter 7
Ballistic & Manipulative Article Review 2
Week 10 Mar 14 & 16 Chapters 8 & 9
Skills (2/16)
Review & Exam 3:
Week 11 Mar 21 & 23 Study!
Chapters 7,8 & 9
Week 12 Spring Break!
Social & Cultural
Week 13 Apr 4 & 6 Chapter 12
Constraints
Knowledge as a
Week 14 Apr 11 &13 Chapter 14
Constraint
Long-term Athlete Balyi, 2004; Llyod Article Review 3
Week 15 Apr 18 & 20
Development & Oliver, 2012 (4/20)
Week 16 Apr 25 Review Study!

Week 17 May 1 Final Exam (5/1) Cumulative

Objectives:

Define key terms in motor development

Motor development
Motor learning
Motor behavior
Development
Aging
Physical growth
Maturation

Discuss Newells model of development and be able to

identify and define the models components

Identify and define commonly used research designs in

the study of motor development
Development

Multidimensional Defined by several characteristics

1. Continuous process of change in functional capacity (i.e.

capability to exist).

2. Related to but not dependent on age.

3. Involves sequential and predictable change.

4. Continues throughout life.

Motor Development

The development of movement abilities.

Explores developmental changes movements and underlying

factors.

Not all changes in movement are motor development.

Motor Terminology

Motor Development the continuous age-related process of

change in movement as well as the interacting constraints that
drive these changes.

Motor Learning movement changes that are relatively

permanent but related to experience or practice.

Motor Control how the nervous system and muscular system

work together to produce coordinated movements.

Motor Behavior both development and learning.

More terms

Physical growth quantitative increase in size or body mass.

In humans: Conception Late adolescence/early 20s

Maturation progress towards physical/physiological maturity.

Optimal functional integration of body systems also the ability to reproduce (puberty).

Aging (broad term) the process of growing older regardless of chronological age.

or the changes that lead to a loss of adaptability or function and eventually death.
Constraints Model for Studying
Motor Development

Karl Newell (1986) movements arise from

The dynamic interactions of the organism

(individual),
the environment (where the movement occurs),
and the task

Comes from the Ecological Perspective more on this

next week!
Newells Model

Allows us to fully understand the

dynamic, constantly changing
interactions in motor
development.

Examples?

Child gymnast

Elderly walker
Lets take a closer look

Constraints characteristic of the individual, environment, or

task that encourages some movements while discouraging
others.

Discourage or limit certain movements.

Encourage or permit other movements.
May shape movement.

Public spaces?
Encourage movements not negative
Individual Constraints

Unique physical, mental characteristics of the individual.

Internal

Structural: related to the bodys structure

Height
Muscle mass & Strength
R.O.M.

Functional: related to behavioral function

Attention
Fear
Motivation
Experience
Environmental Constraints

Properties of the environment

External

Global, not task specific

Physical
Gravity
Surfaces
Size
Weather

Sociocultural
Gender roles
Cultural norms
Task Constraints

Specific task requirements or goals.

External
NOT related to individual

Related specifically to tasks or skills.

Goal of task
Rules guiding task performance
Equipment (Scaled)
Key Points

Newells model guides us in

identifying the developmental factors affecting movements,

Helps us create developmentally appropriate tasks and

environments, and

Helps us understand individual movers.

 What are the important individual,
environmental, and task constraints in this
video?
What constraints change between these two clips?
How do we measure
development?
Research Design in Motor
Development
Longitudinal
An individual or group is observed over time.
Study can require lengthy observation.

Cross-sectional
Individuals or groups of different ages are observed.
Change is inferred, not actually observed.

Sequential or mixed longitudinal: mini-longitudinal

studies with overlapping ages
Research Designs

Why would a researcher use a longitudinal design to study motor

development?

Why would a researcher use a cross-sectional design to study

motor development?
A Paradox in Development

Universality: Individuals in a species show great similarity in

development.

But

Variability: Individual differences exist.

Makes studying development interesting!

Summary

1. Motor development examines continuous, sequential, age-

related change in motor behavior.

2. Individual, environmental, and task constraints underlie this

change.

3. Researchers use longitudinal and cross-sectional research

designs to investigate this change.