Multilateral methods in Physical Education improve physical capacity and motor skills performance of the youth

Physical education may help young people make informed lifestyle choices, develop proficiency in movement skills, and encourage lifelong participation in physical activity. There is ample evidence that participating in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can lead to a variety of benefits for children and adolescents. Unfortunately, their physical activity levels are currently insufficient to promote these benefits. Thus, this randomized controlled study investigated the effects of extracurricular multilateral training (MT) lasting for 12 weeks compared to a standard training (ST) program performed at school on physical capacity and motor skills in adolescents. 20 healthy volunteers between 13 and 14 years of age (11 boys and 9 girls, age 13.6 ± 0.5 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG, n = 10) or control group (CG, n = 10). At weeks 1 and 12, the times to run a 505 change of direction speed (CODS) test (505 COD time plus the first 10 m (speed, agility)) and 300 m test (anaerobic capacity) were assessed. Thereafter, the EG underwent MT (90 min, 2 times a week) plus ST, while the CG underwent only ST. Significant main effects of Time (pre vs. post) were observed for 505 COD time (-8.37% vs. 1.81%, f = 0.27). Significant Time x Group interactions were detected in favor of the EG for 505 COD time (-8.37%, f = 0.50), 10 m speed test (-6.51%, f = 0.43) and 300 m run test (-3.50%, f = 0.29). Our findings suggest that the extracurricular MT protocol was effective in improving physical capacity and motor skills competence after a period of 12 weeks. Thus, inclusion of an extracurricular physical activity performed using a multilateral approach might be more beneficial than having only standard programs at school.