Developing a Traditional Wela Maka Game-Based Throwing Skills Assessment Instrument for Elementary School Students

Authors

  • Yanuarius Ricardus Natal STKIP Citra Bakti, Indonesia
  • Bernabas Wani STKIP Citra Bakti, Indonesia
  • Fulgensius Elpianus Kira STKIP Citra Bakti, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58524/6j67qy97

Keywords:

Instrument Skills, Physical Education, Throwing Skills, Traditional Games, Wela Maka

Abstract

Fundamental movement skills are central to elementary school physical education, yet throwing assessments often emphasize outcomes while giving limited attention to movement processes and culturally familiar activity contexts. This study developed a throwing-skill assessment instrument integrated with the traditional Wela Maka game for elementary school students. A Research and Development (R&D) approach adapted from the Borg and Gall model included product analysis, literature and field study, development planning, internal design testing, expert validation, revision, limited-scale testing, main field testing, and final refinement. Data were collected through observation, interviews, expert-validation questionnaires, and the developed assessment sheets and analyzed descriptively using percentages and qualitative feedback. Expert validation averaged 90.83%, the limited-scale trial 88.12%, and the main field trial 92.68%. The findings support the instrument’s feasibility and practicality for observing throwing processes and outcomes in a game-based context. The final product includes Wela Maka procedures, throwing-skill indicators, an assessment rubric, scoring guidance, and teacher instructions. Because inter-rater reliability, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity were not comprehensively examined, the results represent developmental feasibility and usability rather than complete psychometric validation.

References

Abe, T., Kitayuguchi, J., Fukushima, N., Kamada, M., Okada, S., Ueta, K., Tanaka, C., & Mutoh, Y. (2022). Fundamental movement skills in preschoolers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: A serial cross-sectional study. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 27, 26. https://doi.org/10.1265/ehpm.22-00049

Bao, R., Wade, L., Leahy, A. A., Owen, K. B., Hillman, C. H., Jaakkola, T., & Lubans, D. R. (2024). Associations between motor competence and executive functions in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 54, 2141–2156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02040-1

Bolger, L. E., Bolger, L. A., O’Neill, C., Coughlan, E., O’Brien, W., Lacey, S., Burns, C., & Bardid, F. (2021). Global levels of fundamental motor skills in children: A systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(7), 717–753. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1841405

Bretz, K., Strotmeyer, A., Seelig, H., & Herrmann, C. (2024). Development and validation of a test instrument for the assessment of perceived basic motor competencies in first and second graders: The SEMOK-1-2 instrument. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1358170. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1358170

Burton, A. M., Cowburn, I., Thompson, F., Eisenmann, J. C., Nicholson, B., & Till, K. (2023). Associations between motor competence and physical activity, physical fitness and psychosocial characteristics in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 53, 2191–2256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01886-1

Chen, Y., Gu, Y., Tian, Y., Kim, H., Ma, J., Jia, X., & Qin, L. (2022). Developing a scale for measuring the fundamental movement skills of preschool children in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(21), 14257. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114257

Cheong, J. P. G., & Hussain, B. H. (2024). Practicing traditional cultural games skills according to random and game-based practice schedules can improve gross motor skills performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1405635. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1405635

dos Santos, F. G., Pacheco, M. M., Stodden, D., Tani, G., & Maia, J. A. R. (2022). Testing Seefeldt’s proficiency barrier: A longitudinal study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(12), 7184. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127184

Duncan, M. J., Martins, C., Ribeiro Bandeira, P. F., Issartel, J., Peers, C., Belton, S., O’Connor, N. E., & Behan, S. (2022). TGMD-3 short version: Evidence of validity and associations with sex in Irish children. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40, 138–145. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2021.1978161

Eddy, L., Hill, L. J. B., Mon-Williams, M., Preston, N., Daly-Smith, A., Medd, G., & Bingham, D. D. (2021a). Fundamental movement skills and their assessment in primary schools from the perspective of teachers. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 25(3), 236–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/1091367X.2021.1874955

Eddy, L. H., Preston, N., Mon-Williams, M., Bingham, D. D., Atkinson, J. M. C., Ellingham-Khan, M., Otteslev, A., & Hill, L. J. B. (2021b). Developing and validating a school-based screening tool of fundamental movement skills (FUNMOVES) using Rasch analysis. PLOS ONE, 16(4), e0250002. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250002

Fernández Amat, C., Zarza-Alzugaray, F. J., & del Barrio Aranda, L. (2024). Design and validation of a scale for the assessment of educational competencies in traditional musical games. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03340-7

Fitri, A. W., Dimyati, D., & Ayriza, Y. (2024). Application of traditional games to the fundamental movement skills of children 5–6 years of age. International Journal of Disabilities Sports and Health Sciences, 7(6), 1329–1338. https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1532819

Foulkes, J. D., Knowles, Z., Fairclough, S. J., Stratton, G., O’Dwyer, M. V., & Foweather, L. (2022). Is foundational movement skill competency important for keeping children physically active and at a healthy weight? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010105

Garbeloto, F., Pereira, S., Tani, G., Chaput, J.-P., Stodden, D. F., Garganta, R., Hedeker, D., Katzmarzyk, P. T., & Maia, J. (2024). Validity and reliability of Meu Educativo®: A new tool to assess fundamental movement skills in school-aged children. American Journal of Human Biology, 36(7), e24011. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.24011

Gavigan, N., Belton, S., Whyte, E., O’Connor, S., Morley, D., & Issartel, J. (2022). Design of a new movement competence assessment for children aged 8–12: A Delphi poll study. European Physical Education Review, 28(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X221102703

Hulteen, R. M., True, L., & Kroc, E. (2023). Trust the “process”? When fundamental motor skill scores are reliably unreliable. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/1091367X.2023.2199126

Hussain, B. H., & Cheong, J. P. G. (2022). Improving gross motor skills of children through traditional games skills practiced along the contextual interference continuum. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 986403. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.986403

Khodaverdi, Z., O’Brien, W., Duncan, M., & Clark, C. C. T. (2022). Motor competence interventions in children and adolescents: Theoretical and atheoretical approaches. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(20), 2233–2266. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2022.2148897

Lawson, C., Eyre, E. L. J., Tallis, J., & Duncan, M. J. (2021). Fundamental movement skill proficiency among British primary school children: Analysis at a behavioral component level. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 128(2), 625–648.

Moon, J., Webster, C. A., Stodden, D. F., Brian, A., Mulvey, K. L., Beets, M., Egan, C. A., McIntosh, L. I. F., Merica, C. B., & Russ, L. (2024). Systematic review and meta-analysis of physical activity interventions to increase elementary children’s motor competence: A comprehensive school physical activity program perspective. BMC Public Health, 24, 826. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18145-1

Nagy, Á. V., Wilhelm, M., Domokos, M., Győri, F., & Berki, T. (2023). Assessment tools measuring fundamental movement skills of primary school children: A narrative review in methodological perspective. Sports, 11(9), 178. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11090178

Ng, J. Y. Y., Jiang, S., Chan, C. H. S., & Ha, A. S. (2025). Assessing fundamental movement skills using the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD): Challenges and solutions to comparability and standardization. Sports Medicine and Health Science, 7(4), 299–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2025.02.007

O’Brien, W., Philpott, C., Lester, D., Belton, S., Duncan, M., Donovan, B., Chambers, F., & Utesch, T. (2023). Motor competence assessment in physical education: Convergent validity between fundamental movement skills and functional movement assessments in adolescence. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 28, 306–319. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2021.1990241

Pienaar, A. E., Monyeki, M. A., Coetzee, D., Gerber, B., du Plessis, W., du Plessis, A. M., & Kruger, R. (2022). Age and sex differences in the state and relationships between process and product assessments of fundamental-motor skills in five to eight-year-olds: The ExAMIN Youth SA study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, 9565. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159565

Radanović, D., Đorđević, D., Stanković, M., Pekas, D., Bogataj, Š., & Trajković, N. (2021). Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT-2) short form: A systematic review of studies conducted in healthy children. Children, 8(9), 787. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8090787

Simpson, A., Ward, B., Rosenberg, M., Jackson, B., Gou, J., Derbyshire, A., & Thornton, A. L. (2025). Preliminary validity evidence for a rapid fundamental movement skill assessment tool for primary education settings. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 7, 1441402. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1441402

Van Dokkum, N. H., Reijneveld, S. A., De Best, J. T. B. W., Hamoen, M., Te Wierike, S. C. M., Bos, A. F., & De Kroon, M. L. A. (2022). Criterion validity and applicability of motor screening instruments in children aged 5–6 years: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 781. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020781

Wälti, M., Seelig, H., Adamakis, M., Colella, D., Emeljanovas, A., Gerlach, E., Kossyva, I., Labudová, J., Masaryková, D., Miežienė, B., Mombarg, R., Monacis, D., Niederkofler, B., Onofre, M., Pühse, U., Quitério, A., Sallen, J., Scheuer, C., Vlček, P., ... Herrmann, C. (2023). Investigating levels and determinants of primary school children’s basic motor competencies in nine European countries. Zeitschrift für Grundschulforschung, 16, 113–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42278-022-00155-w

Wälti, M., Schole, L., Gerlach, E., Sallen, J., Scheuer, C., Pühse, U., & Herrmann, C. (2025). Basic motor competencies and the amount of physical education in European primary school children. Journal of Sports Sciences, 43(16), 1595–1605. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2514926

Xu, Z., Shen, S.-J., & Wen, Y.-H. (2024). The relationship between fundamental movement skills and physical activity in preschoolers: A systematic review. Early Child Development and Care, 194(2), 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2024.2309478

Zhang, D., Soh, K. G., Chan, Y. M., Zaremohzzabieh, Z., Soh, K. L., & He, S. (2024). Exploring the effects of a 12-week functional training program on fundamental motor skills for primary school children aged 6–7. Children and Youth Services Review, 167, 108008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.108008

Zhang, X., Tang, C., Geng, M., Li, K., Liu, C., & Cai, Y. (2025). The effects of active play interventions on children’s fundamental movement skills: A systematic review. BMC Pediatrics, 25, 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-05385-8

Downloads

Published

2026-09-24