The Relationship between Intelligence Quotient, Motor Fitness and Anthropometric Characteristics with Skills Learning Stages in Basketball

Ackerman (1988) states intelligence and motor ability as the two important abilities in three learning stages (cognitive, motor and autonomic) of Fitts and Posner. Therefore, the present study aims at investigating the relationship between Intelligence Quotient (IQ), motor fitness and anthropometric characteristics with basic basketball skills learning stages. The population includes all seven-to-eleven-year-old boys of Aleshtar city, 1054, 60 of whom were selected using random cluster sampling method. Data collection tools included Rion’s IQ inventory, standard tests of motor fitness, and basketball skill tests of Ifred. Statistical analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression. Correlation between IQ and performance basic skills of basketball in cognitive stage of learning was significant and its peak. This correlation in motor and autonomic stages was also significant but decreased. On the other hand, the correlation of motor fitness and anthropometric characteristics with performance basic skills of basketball was low but still significant in cognitive and motor stages. This correlation reached its peak in autonomic stage. Motor fitness and anthropometric characteristics are more important in autonomic stage and IQ is more important in motor fitness in cognitive stages of learning shooting, passing and dribbling skills in basketball.