The effect of Game Sense on improvement of basketball executive skills and non-practiced tasks performance in children with developmental coordination disorder

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of game sense on improvement of basketball executive skills and non-practiced tasks in children with developmental coordination disorder. 40 female right-handed students among 56 elementary schools aged 10-12, were screened based on the criteria of the statistical and diagnostic guidelines for mental disorders among the students of Ardabil city. Children were randomly assigned to two groups: traditional and game sense. The measurements included were, movement assessment battery for children second edition (MABC2), AAHPERD basketball skills test, game performance assessment instrument and handwriting problem check list. All measures were administered pre and post an 8-week training program, 16 session, which each session lasted for 40 minutes. The results of multivariate covariance analysis showed that students were better in decision-making, support, passing and dribbling skills using game sense (p<0/05), but there was no significant difference in other components. Also, in the examination of the handwriting skills of students with DCD, the game sense group was significantly better than the traditional group (p<0/01). In general, game sense pedagogy showed a better improvement in both practiced and non-practiced skills, and the findings suggest that use game-oriented and question based approaches in teaching sports skills to these kind of children.