Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.1
2.9
Journals
Sports
Special Issues
Pathways to Healthy Outcomes: Physical Literacy and Training for Adolescents
share announcement

Pathways to Healthy Outcomes: Physical Literacy and Training for Adolescents

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 October 2025) | Viewed by 3761

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sarah Costigan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Education, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Interests: physical activity; physical education; fitness; mental health; cognition; adolescent

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Promoting lifelong health begins with the development of physical literacy during childhood and adolescence, an essential foundation for sustained wellbeing. Physical literacy involves not only engaging in sports but also cultivating the knowledge, confidence, and motivation necessary for continuous participation in physical activities. This developmental phase is crucial for forming habits that yield healthy outcomes, including reduced risk of chronic diseases and enhanced mental wellbeing.

Training programs targeting adolescents aim to develop fundamental movement skills, which serve as the groundwork for more complex activities and sports. By exposing young individuals to a diverse array of physical activities, they can continue to participate in a range of activities that encourage sustained engagement.

Educators and coaches are integral to this process, tasked with fostering supportive and inclusive environments. Their role involves promoting understanding of the benefits of physical activity and reinforcing adolescents’ confidence and motivation through positive reinforcement. This approach aligns with fostering immediate and long-term developmental outcomes by focusing on the activities they engage in, the social dynamics involved, and the organisational settings provided. By prioritising physical literacy, we equip adolescents with the skills needed for healthier futures, ensuring they lead active lives and make informed choices concerning their wellbeing.

Dr. Sarah Costigan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical literacy
  • physical activity
  • adolescents
  • lifelong physical activity
  • fundamental movement skills
  • sport
  • exercise
  • training programs
  • motivation
  • wellbeing

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 1432 KB  
Article
Can Recreational Soccer Improve Physical Literacy Dimensions Among Adolescents with High Cardiometabolic Risk?
by Gustavo Pavez-Adasme, Juan Párraga-Montilla, Cristián Martínez-Salazar, Marcelo Castillo-Retamal, Pedro Latorre-Román and Nicolás Gómez-Álvarez
Sports 2025, 13(12), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13120423 - 2 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 711
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze whether recreational soccer, through small-sided and traditional soccer formats, can promote improvements in different dimensions of physical literacy among adolescents with high cardiometabolic risk. Methodology. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with two experimental conditions (small-sided soccer games [...] Read more.
This study aimed to analyze whether recreational soccer, through small-sided and traditional soccer formats, can promote improvements in different dimensions of physical literacy among adolescents with high cardiometabolic risk. Methodology. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with two experimental conditions (small-sided soccer games and traditional soccer) and one control condition. A total of 51 male adolescents aged 11–15 years with high cardiometabolic risk participated in the study. A model including three dimensions of physical literacy was established: physical, psychological, and cognitive dimensions. Data were standardized using z-scores to allow variable weighting within the model, and effect sizes and ANCOVA were used for inter- and intragroup comparisons. Results. The overall effect on physical literacy was small (ES: 0.31). The small-sided soccer group showed better results in the physical and psychological dimensions. The per-protocol analysis showed small effects in the high-adherence groups (ES = 0.43 and 0.38) and significant within-group differences; however, the post hoc analyses only revealed trends when compared with the low-adherence groups. Conclusions. Recreational soccer, whether in SSG or TSG formats, was insufficient to elicit significant improvements in physical literacy among adolescents with high cardiometabolic risk. Participants with higher adherence showed better outcomes, with SSG showing a clear tendency toward greater improvements in the physical and psychological domains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathways to Healthy Outcomes: Physical Literacy and Training for Adolescents)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 213 KB  
Article
Motivational Determinants of Recreational Padel Participation: A Comparative Analysis Across Age and Gender
by Zlatan Bilić, Petar Barbaros, Vedran Dukarić, Tea Lovreković and Lidija Petrinović
Sports 2025, 13(11), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13110377 - 3 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1169
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the differences in motivation when playing recreational padel regarding gender and age. The sample included 201 respondents (M = 131, F = 70) with an average age of 31 ± 7.07 years. Data was collected [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to examine the differences in motivation when playing recreational padel regarding gender and age. The sample included 201 respondents (M = 131, F = 70) with an average age of 31 ± 7.07 years. Data was collected online via the Sport Motivation Scale-II (SMS-II) questionnaire. Spearman correlation presented the highest correlation between intrinsic and introjected (r = 0.658) motivation forms. Furthermore, results were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test. The results showed a statistically significant difference in motivation between men and women exclusively in the dimension of introjected regulation (M = 107.54, F = 88.76; p = 0.03), while no difference was found in the other dimensions. Also, introjected regulation was found to have the highest impact on differences across age (18–30 yr = 94.39; 31–50 yr = 110.59; p = 0.05). The research shows that padel as a recreational activity has a similar motivational effect on different age and gender groups, apart from introjected regulation, where men show higher results. Overall, the motivation to engage in padel largely depends on personal interests, enjoyment and perceived benefits, while gender and age have a limited influence, which coincides with some of the previous literature. Since research on motivation in the context of padel is still rare, this research contributes to the understanding of the factors that influence recreational engagement in this sport. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathways to Healthy Outcomes: Physical Literacy and Training for Adolescents)
16 pages, 1333 KB  
Article
Enhancing Fundamental Movement Competency in Rural Middle School Children Through a Strength Training Intervention: A Feasibility Study
by Janelle M. Goss, Janette M. Watkins, Megan M. Kwaiser, Andrew M. Medellin, Lilian Golzarri-Arroyo, Autumn P. Schigur, James M. Hobson, Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher and Kyle A. Kercher
Sports 2025, 13(7), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13070200 - 22 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1298
Abstract
Background: Fundamental movement skills (FMS)—including muscular strength, endurance, and mobility—are linked to better health-related quality of life and higher physical activity in children. Rural children often score lower on FMS tests than urban peers due to resource limitations rather than ability. Thus, [...] Read more.
Background: Fundamental movement skills (FMS)—including muscular strength, endurance, and mobility—are linked to better health-related quality of life and higher physical activity in children. Rural children often score lower on FMS tests than urban peers due to resource limitations rather than ability. Thus, increasing access to FMS activities in under-resourced rural areas is essential. The primary objective was to test the feasibility of Hoosier Strength in a rural middle school sample, and the secondary objective was to observe the preliminary changes in FMS-related outcomes pre- to post-intervention and at follow-up. The exploratory objective was to explore how participants responded to different coaches on the Hoosier Strength coaching team (i.e., gender, coaching style during activities). Methods: This study used a Hybrid Type 3 design to evaluate feasibility and FMS outcomes, integrating qualitative and quantitative data. The four-week intervention included a test group (n = 24; 14 females, 10 males; mean age: females 12.4 ± 0.5 years, males 12.7 ± 0.4 years) and a control group (n = 12; 8 females, 4 males; mean age: females 12.9 ± 0.3 years, males 12.7 ± 0.3 years). Data analysis included descriptive statistics for feasibility indicators (Acceptability of Intervention Measures [AIM], Intervention Appropriateness Measure [IAM], and Feasibility of Intervention Measure [FIM]), linear regression for mobility and muscular endurance changes, t-tests for psychological need satisfaction and frustration, and regression analysis for squat knowledge and post-intervention confidence. Results: (1) There was high feasibility across the 4-week Hoosier Strength intervention and at follow-up; (2) there were no statistically significant changes in squat performance; (3) participants’ confidence in their ability to squat at the end of the intervention was significantly predicted by their squat knowledge at baseline; and (4) participants prioritized leadership and team management over tactical analysis, highlighting a preference for coaches who foster teamwork. Conclusions: The findings offer a transparent approach for evaluating the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of the Hoosier Strength intervention in an under-resourced rural middle school, thereby encouraging further investigation into strength training interventions in rural schools. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathways to Healthy Outcomes: Physical Literacy and Training for Adolescents)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop