This study analyzed the factorial structure of motor competence tests designed to evaluate motor development among adolescents, focusing on the two main dimensions of coordination and motor control. To this end, we randomly sampled 1,026 adolescents (45.3% males; 45.7% females, age 13.75 years, SD = 1.28). Participants completed the…

The aims of this study were to determine the fundamental movement skill proficiency, functional movement competency and health-related physical fitness in a cohort of UK adolescents and to further examine if there were any relationships between these variables. In total, there were 178 participants aged between 11 and 13 years, 90 boys and 88…

Using a sample of healthy youth (n = 466, 10 to 18 yr), we report the predictive utility of vertical jump power (VJ Power, W) for predicting bone strength. We measured VJ Power using mechanography and an indicator of bone strength, i.e., height-adjusted total bone mineral content less head (TBLH BMC, g), using DXA. Growth curve models were used to…

This study evaluated test-equating methods to enable comparisons and conversions between the vertical jump (VJ) and standing long jump (SLJ) tests. A total of 528 youth (280 males) performed VJ and SLJ, and their scores were randomly split as the calibration (C) sample (n = 478) and cross-validation (CV) sample (n = 50). SLJ scores of the C sample…

Childhood physical fitness relative to adult health outcomes coupled with scant longitudinal research indicates that tracking of fitness components throughout childhood/adolescence is imperative. The study examined the stability/tracking of 9 measures of fitness for boys and girls at 5 points throughout childhood/adolescence. Tracking coefficients…

Incorporation of the vertical jump (VJ) test in health-related fitness batteries is predicated on the availability of prediction equations to accurately estimate VJ power. The purpose was to develop and validate a generalizable equation to estimate VJ power from VJ height, body mass, age, and sex in 10- to 18-year-olds. The sample (N = 529)…

This study examined the predictive validity of musculoskeletal fitness tests for identifying sarcopenia in youth. The sample was 529 participants age 10 to 18 years. Indices included: total lean body mass (LBM) normalized for height (LBM index, LBMI, kg/m2), appendicular LBMI (aLBMI, kg/m[superscript 2]), and LBM to fat body mass (FBM) ratio…

This study summarized protocols in the "Lisbon Study for the Development and Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Fitness Standards in Youth" and assessed associations between fitness assessments and health outcomes. The sample was 529 children and adolescents (10 to 18 yr). The fitness assessments included handgrip, vertical jump, long jump,…

This study examined the predictive ability of the medicine ball chest throw and vertical jump for muscular strength and power in adolescents. One hundred and ninety adolescents participated in this study. Participants performed trials of the medicine ball chest throw and vertical jump, with vertical jump peak power calculated via an estimation…

The purpose of this study was to analyze the kinematic variables that determine the performance of the standing long jump in children 6- to 12-years-old. There were 121 healthy children (58 girls) recorded while they performed the standing long jump test. All kinematic variables showed a significant correlation with calculated jump distance and…

This study was designed to investigate the equivalence reliability between the suggested FITNESSGRAM[R] muscular strength and endurance test, the 90[degrees] push-up (PSU), and alternate FITNESSGRAM[R] tests of upper-body strength and endurance (i.e., modified pull-up [MPU], flexed-arm hang [FAH], and pull-up [PU]). Children (N = 383) in Grades 3…