Impact of regular physical activity and sport on the school performances of students between 6 and 10 years old

Abstract

This longitudinal study aimed at investigating the impact of regular physical
activity and sport on the school performances. An experimental group of 55 students that
practice out-of-school sports and a reference group of 55 students that does not practice
out of school sports, their age is between 6 and 10 years old, from elementary schools of
the town of Oran, they were followed during 15 month. The sociodemographic
data were collected by a questionnaire intended for the students of the two
groups, and administrative school results at the end of each quarter. An intelligence test
of the CPM was administered at the end of the fifth trimester to assess the main
cognitive abilities in both groups. As noted by many similar studies, the practice of a
physical-activity and sport regular seem to have a very positive impact on the academic
performance and also on cognitive functioning.