THE EFFECTS OF A SUPPLEMENTARY KIDS' ATHLETICS PROGRAM ON MOTOR ABILITIES OF YOUNG SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

The aim of this study was to review and critically examine the existing evidence on the effects of supplementary Kids’ Athletics programs on the motor abilities of younger school-aged children. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies were screened according to predefined inclusion criteria, and methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final synthesis, comprising a total of 613 participants of both sexes aged 6 to 12 years. The included studies varied considerably in design, sample size, intervention duration and frequency, program content, and outcome measures. Most studies reported improvements in motor abilities such as speed, agility, coordination, explosive power, flexibility, and aerobic endurance following participation in Kids’ Athletics programs. However, the magnitude and consistency of these effects differed across motor domains, and evidence was limited for certain abilities due to the small number of available studies. Given the substantial heterogeneity among interventions and methodological limitations of the included studies, the overall findings should be interpreted with caution. While supplementary Kids’ Athletics programs appear to have the potential to support motor development in young school-age children, further high-quality, methodologically consistent studies are needed to strengthen confidence in these conclusions.