'I'll pick first' : a study of the relationship between academic and physical ability

Abstract

Many children dislike Physical Education (P.E) lessons because they lack physical ability and also because the other children in their class don't encourage them to participate more and feel 'good' about themselves. To me it seems that those children who are chosen last for a team, or do not seem to join in enthusiastically, are those who are relatively low achievers and are not as popular amongst their peers. Whereas for a child with high academic ability the opposite is true. I hope to discover whether a low achiever has low physical ability (motor skill) and a high academic achiever has a high physical ability(motor skill). There is relatively little information supporting any statement addressing the linkages between academic and physical achievement. Many assume the relationship, yet there is little positive supporting evidence.