Abstract
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Objectives: Evidence supports that girls are less proficient than boys at performing ball skills. This study
examined the immediate and long-term effects of a ball skill intervention on preschool-age girls’ ball
skill performance.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Methods: Girls (Mage = 47.24 ± 7.38 months) were randomly assigned to a high autonomy, mastery-based
9-week motor skill intervention (the Children’s Health Activity Motor Program; CHAMP, 540 min; n = 38)
or a control group (free-play; n = 16). Ball skill proficiency was assessed at pretest, posttest, and retention
test(after 9 weeks)using the object control subscale ofthe Test of GrossMotor Development – 2ndEdition.
Treatment efficacy was examined using linear mixed models. Two models were fit: one for short-term
changes (pretest to posttest) and one for long-term changes (pretest to retention).
Results: Linear mixed models revealed a significantly time*treatment interaction for both models. Post
hoc analysis confirmed that girls in CHAMP experienced significant gains in ball skills from pretest to
posttest (p < .001) and pretest to retention (p < .001). Moreover, girls in CHAMP were no different from
the control group at pretest(p > .05) but had significantly higher ball skills scores at both posttest(p < .001)
and retention (p < .001).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the positive effects of a ball skill intervention (i.e., CHAMP) on
improving girls’ ball skills both short- and long-term. Findings suggest that early childhood interventions
that focus on the development of ball skills in young girls might be an avenue to improve girls’ ball skill
performance.