Task constraints and fundamental patterns of movement: a comparison between kicking and throwing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the motor behavior of body components of 7-year children in kicking and throwing, on two environmental situations: to a target and for distance. For this, 50 children were analyzed, and their motor behavior was classified according to a check-list elaborated in base of the model of Gallahue (1982) and the model of components analysis, proposed by Roberton and Halverson (1984). The children presented higher scores in kicking than throwing on target-tasks and distance-tasks, with exception of arms action on target-task. A possible explanation would be an early exposition to kicking, due to a cultural factor existing in Brazil. New studies must investigate the form that Brazilian children organize their movement, specially with the collective behavior of component analysis.