A quarter of Irish primary school pupils can’t run properly and half don’t know how to kick a ball, a study has found.
And, alarmingly, less than one in every five youngsters can throw correctly.
Researchers say mastering these skills is a significant milestone and is achievable by the age of eight.
And studies showed children failing to do so can result in them avoiding taking part in sports and physical activity, particularly in teenage years.
Dr Stephen Behan, from DCU’s School of Health and Human Performance, said the findings highlight “the poor levels of basic skills in Irish children.”
He added: “If children don’t have a solid foundation of basic movement skills, how can we expect them to do more complex skills as part of organised sport?
“This solid foundation is what allows children to take part in a multitude of physical activities, and to feel confident in trying
new things.
“There is a lot of attention on childhood obesity and low participation rates in sport.
“A focus on the fundamental movement skills in young children could be key in tackling both.”
There was a notable difference between boys and girls in certain areas, with the former displaying a greater ability in ball skills such as throwing and catching.
Meanwhile, girls scored higher in body control such as balance and skipping.
Another finding showed females are more likely to take part in activities such as gymnastics and dance while males are drawn to rugby and soccer.
However, both boys and girls have a huge involvement in Gaelic Games overall.
The survey sample included 2,098 primary school children (47% female and 53% male) aged between the ages of five and 12. The average age was nine.
Participants were recruited from 44 schools across 12 counties (56% rural and 44% urban) taking into account all four provinces in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Another DCU academic who took part in the study, Dr Johann Issartel, called on teachers and sports coaches to learn from the results to tackle the issue.
He said: “These findings highlight core issues that teachers, parents and coaches need to address.
“If the current generation of children can’t throw and catch in basic situations, why would they choose to play if they aren’t good at it?
“It is not fun, that’s what they say, and if it is not fun they won’t play.
“Develop confidence and competence for our children then they won’t stop playing and that’s what you want. Children at play for as long as possible every day of the year.”
