Abstract

This study aimed to establish reference values to categorize the levels of motor competence of students between 10 and 12 years of age, according to sex and age. A total of 1010 students (48.4% girls) in 5th and 6th grade of primary school from 16 schools in La Araucania, Chile, participated in the study. The Spanish version of the MOBAK 5-6 test was used. To determine reference values, the procedure recommended in the original MOBAK Battery was used, ordering the score of each dimension by Percentile Rank and T-values. In the results of the object control dimension, sex differences were found in favor of boys (p<0.001; p <0.001; PSest=0.65) est =0.65) and age differences in favor of older students (p<0.001). p <0.001). In this dimension, 33.2% of boys and 51.5% of girls are in the theoretical range of needing motor reinforcement. In the dimension of self-movement, sex differences were found in favor of girls (p=0.043; p =0.043; PSest=0.46), est =0.46), while no significant differences were found according to age (p=0.323). p =0.323). In this dimension, 50.3% of girls and 56.6% of boys are in the theoretical range of needing motor reinforcement. Low levels of motor competence in schoolchildren are described, and it is necessary to create opportunities for their development. To this end, the reference values established in this study will be a very useful tool, as they will make it possible to know and monitor the level of motor competence of schoolchildren.