The Importance of Fundamental Movement Skills
Remember climbing trees, playing tag, or spending hours at the local playground? As children, we were unknowingly developing crucial movement skills through these activities. However, in today's increasingly sedentary world, many young people are missing out on these formative experiences. At The Project PT, we're working to address this gap and ensure that the next generation develops the fundamental movement skills they need for a healthy, active life.
Understanding Fundamental Movement Skills
Fundamental movement skills form the foundation of physical literacy. They can be categorized into three main groups:
Locomotor Skills: These involve moving the body from one point to another, including walking, running, jumping, and hopping.
Object Control Skills: These skills involve manipulating objects, such as throwing, catching, kicking, and striking.
Stability Skills: These focus on balance and body control, including standing on one foot, twisting, and dodging
The Decline of Movement Skills and Its Impact
Recent trends show a decline in these fundamental skills among young people. This decrease can be attributed to various factors, including increased screen time, reduced outdoor play, and fewer opportunities for unstructured physical activity.
The implications of this decline extend far beyond childhood. These fundamental skills underpin our ability to participate in sports, exercise effectively, and perform daily tasks as adults. A lack of these skills can lead to:
Decreased physical activity levels in adulthood
Increased risk of obesity and related health issues
Reduced confidence in participating in sports and fitness activities
Potential limitations in performing everyday tasks
The Project PT's Approach: Developing Biomotor Abilities
At The Project PT, we focus on developing biomotor abilities, the building blocks of movement.
These include:
Strength: The ability to produce force against resistance
Endurance: The capacity to sustain physical activity over time
Speed: The ability to move quickly
Flexibility: The range of motion in joints and muscles
Coordination: The ability to control movement efficiently
By developing these abilities, we provide young people with a solid foundation for any physical activity they might pursue in the future.
Our Programs: Bridging the Movement Gap
Junior Gym and Teen Gym
Our Junior Gym and Teen Gym classes are designed to develop fundamental movement skills and biomotor abilities in a structured, enjoyable environment. These classes focus on:
Bodyweight exercises to build strength and body awareness
Plyometric activities to enhance power and coordination
Agility drills to improve speed and decision-making skills
These classes not only enhance physical capabilities but also contribute to cognitive development, potentially benefiting academic performance and problem-solving skills.
Junior and Teen Strength
Our strength training programs for young people focus on foundational compound movements. These classes:
Develop overall strength, which underpins many other physical abilities
Enhance neuromuscular coordination, setting the stage for efficient movement patterns in adulthood
Provide a solid base for future fitness endeavors, making it easier to build muscle and maintain health in later years
Looking Ahead: A Lifetime of Movement
By focusing on these fundamental skills and biomotor abilities, The Project PT aims to reverse the trend of declining physical capability in young people. We're not just training for sports performance; we're preparing individuals for a lifetime of confident, capable movement.
Whether our participants go on to excel in sports, enjoy recreational activities, or simply lead active, healthy lives, the skills they develop with us will serve them well into adulthood. By bridging the gap between childhood play and adult physical literacy, we're investing in the long-term health and well-being of our community
If you are interested in finding out more or want to sign your young person up for one of the classes you can find more information here.
