Abstract

Introduction: It has been shown that playful methodologies or methods based on structured motor play could improve motor self-efficacy and some components of physical fitness compared to conventional methodologies. Objective: To analyze the effects of a structured motor game program on motor self-efficacy and components of physical fitness in schoolchildren. Methods: Experimental study, where 12-13-year-old students from two schools participated. A randomized experiment was carried out, made up of a control group that took a conventional physical education class according to the structure declared in the curricular bases of the Chilean educational system and an experimental group that took structured motor game classes, each with 17 participants. The motor self-efficacy scale was applied, as well as the alpha physical test before and after 4 weeks of intervention. Results: control and experimental group had significant changes in the motor self-efficacy variable (p= 0.001; TE= 1.14 and p =0.006; TE=0.65, re-spectively), however, in the physical fitness components only changes in the experimental group in the waist circumference variable (p=0.041; TE=0.06). Conclusion: This investigation revealed that there is a statistically significant effect on the motor self-efficacy variable, both in the control group and in the experimental group, on the other hand, there were no statistically significant changes in physical fitness.