Improvement of the tactical skill in invasion sports in schoolchildreninfluence of the baseline level

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of the baseline level on the improvement of the tactical skill in invasion sports through a physical education-based program consisting in two alternated teaching units of futsal and basketball in schoolchildren. A sample of 85 schoolchildren, 39 males and 46 females, from 5º-6º grade of primary education carried out two alternated teaching units of futsal and basketball (5 sessions each one) during the physical education sessions. Two classes performed the teaching units in a traditional way (n = 42) and two alternately (n = 43). The schoolchildren´s from alternated teaching units was divided according to their baseline tactical skill in low (< P50, n = 23) and high (≥ P50, n = 20). The results showed that the schoolchildren with low baseline level obtained statistically significant improvements in the skill of adjustment, marking, decision making and game performance compared to the traditional group (p < 0.05, d = 0.66-1.26). However, the schoolchildren with a high baseline level only improved their adjustment skill compared to the traditional group (p < 0.05, d = 1.18).