Assessment of motor competence in Indonesian elementary school children using the Körperkoordinationstest Für Kinder (KTK3+) (Body coordination test for children)

Motor competence plays a pivotal role in the development of physical, cognitive, and social skills in school-aged children. Despite its significance, there is a notable gap in research on the motor competence of elementary school children in Indonesia, and in particular the application of the modified Kdrperkoordinationstest Fiir Kinder (KTK3+). Widely recognized for its efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendly nature, the KTK3+ test battery has proved to be a valuable tool for evaluating motor competence in children in various nations. It comprehensively assesses gross motor skills, including balance, object control, and locomotion. In this study, the first of its kind in Indonesia, we evaluated 243 elementary school children (n =182 rural, n = 61 urban) from West Sumatra, Indonesia, aged 7-12 years and comprising 123 boys and 120 girls. All children performed four subtests: balance beam (BB), moving sideways (MS), jumping sideways (JS), and eye-hand coordination (EHC). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for motor scores revealed statistically significant effects based on location and age (p < .05). On average, older children exhibited superior performance compared to their peers who were one year younger, with the most substantial increase observed in the age groups of 10, 11, and 12 (mean raw scores, p < .05). However, the study findings suggest a less consistent improvement in motor performance among 7-9-year-olds. Additionally, rural children outperformed their urban counterparts across all test protocols and motor quotients (MQ). Notably, girls excelled in JS, while boys demonstrated superior performance in BB, MS, and EHC. Motor quotient scores indicated that 36% of the children fell within a range of motor competence that could be classified as impaired. The outcomes underscore the utility of the KTK3+ as an effective tool for assessing individual motor competence among Indonesian children. The use of this tool in elementary schools is recommended for assessment purposes and for addressing the challenges associated with an observed decline in coordination skills. The KTK3+ test can provide valuable insights that will help to enhance policies that support physical activity, sports, and physical education for children and adolescents.