Physical literacy improves with the Run Jump Throw Wheel program among students in grades 4-6 in southwestern Ontario.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the introduction of a fundamental movement skills (FMS) program to grade 4-6 physical education (PE) classes could improve students' physical literacy (PL) and influence the amount of effort exerted in PE class. Athletics Canada's grassroots Run Jump Throw Wheel (RJTW) Program was delivered for 10 weeks during PE classes (2 schools four grade 4, four grade 5, two grade 6, one split grade 5-6 class, and one split grade 6-7 class, totalling 310 students). Participants completed the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL) and wore heart rate monitors and pre- and postintervention. The CAPL score increased 3.3 (±8.8) points from the pretest to the post-test (t = 6.47, p < 0.001). Improvements were not significantly different by grade or gender, but those in the suburban-area school improved more so than those attending the rural-area school (F[1,294] = 4.82, p < 0.004). Among those participants that increased their PL (n = 186), the CAPL scores increased by 8.6 (±5.9) points versus those that decreased (n = 110; -5.6 ± 4.8 points), F[1,294] = 452.11, p < 0.001. No significant differences in time spent in physical activity were observed between the pre- and post-test (i.e., 17.0 ± 7.0 min and 19.3 ± 7.0 min, respectively, t = 1.70, p = 0.091). The RJTW program increased participants' overall FMS, as well as their knowledge and understanding regarding these FMS, both key components of PL.