Expert recommendations for the design of a teacher-oriented movement assessment tool for children aged 4-7 years: a Delphi study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the content of a teacher-oriented movement assessment tool (MAT) for children aged 4–7 years. A three-round Delphi poll with an international panel of forty-six academics and practitioners was conducted. Consensus was reached on a selection and number of fundamental movement skills to be assessed with four stability (one foot balance, walk forwards along a line, front support, and sideways roll), five object control (two handed catch, underarm throw, overarm throw, kicking a ball, dribbling a ball with hands), and five locomotor (run, hop, horizontal jump, side-stepping, and skipping). A developmental stage approach and process-oriented scoring were deemed most suitable. These findings present the requisite elements to develop a teacher-oriented MAT for children aged 4–7 years. This framework would provide teachers the opportunity to effectively assess children’s FMS and subsequently intervene to improve movement competence.