The Effect of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) Approach on Aerobic Endurance, Motor Performance and Promoting Physical Activity Among Ten-year-old Boys

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of teaching games for understanding approach (TGfU) on aerobic endurance, enhancing motor performance and promoting physical activity. To this end, the ten-year-old (mean age=10.2 years, SD 0.7) students in two fourth-grade classes at a school in Sirjan were randomly divided into control and experimental group (N= 22 for each group). First, all participants were given Canadian Agility and Movement Skills Assessment (CAMSA) and Pacer test were taken and their level of physical activity was measured and recorded with a pedometer. The students in the experimental group participated in an intervention program for 36 sessions each for 45 minutes. The participants in the control group followed the usual program. Finally in the end of the intervention, the-second-time- performed tests were given to both groups. Mann-Whitney U test and “Poisson regression analysis” by using GEE method" was used to data analyze. Finally, the same tests were performed after intervention program for both groups. Results indicated that, this approach can play a significant role on agility and movement skills and level of physical activity, while no significant difference was observed on aerobic endurance. The results support the hypothesis that the use of TGfU approach can be effective in facilitating the development of motor performance and improving the level of physical activity among children.