Associations of process- and hybrid-oriented motor competence assessment in spanish adolescents

Introduction: despite the discrepancies between process and product-oriented motor assessments, some hybrid tests exist in the literature that provide a more comprehensive approach. Objetive: the study explored the associations between process and hybrid-oriented motor assessments in Spanish adolescents to test possible overlapping motor competence (MC) constructs. Methodology: a sample of 82 Spanish public high school students underwent assessments using the Test of Gross Motor Development – 3rd edition (TGMD-3) and the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA) on separate days within the same week. Results: in boys, all variables showed significant associations, with a moderate correlation observed between TGMD-3 manipulative skills score (TGMD-3-MS) and CAMSA skill score (CAMSA-SS) (r = 0.30-0.49). For other variables, correlations were classified as high (r ≥ 0.50). Among girls, significant associations were found between TGMD-3-MS and CAMSA-SS, TGMD-3-MS and CAMSA total score (CAMSA-T), TGMD-3 loco-motor skills score (TGMD-3-LS) and CAMSA-T, TGMD-3 total score and CAMSA-SS, and TGMD-3 total score and CAMSA-T. All associations for girls were moderate (r = 0.30-0.49). Boys exhibited statistically significant higher means in height (effect size [ES] = 0.65), TGMD-3-MS (ES = 1.74), TGMD-3-T (ES = 1.07), CAMSA-TS (ES = 1.09), and CAMSA-T (ES = 0.97). Discussion: the significant associations found between tests align with the established patterns observed in other hybrid and process-oriented tests in the literature. Conclusions: these results suggest that both tests may measure similar MC constructs. However, caution should be exercised in Spanish adolescent girls, where fewer correlations were observed between tests and the associations were weaker.