The examination of the effects of physical literacy skills on middle school students

This study aimed to examine the effects of physical literacy skills on middle school students according to gender and grade level. The research was conducted at Fatih Middle School in Batman with the participation of 200 students (95 girls and 105 boys). The average age of the participants was 11.74 years, with 49 students from the 5th grade, 48 from the 6th grade, 51 from the 7th grade, and 52 from the 8th grade. Data were collected using the "Physical Literacy Assessment for Youth" (PLAY) tool, developed in Canada and adapted into Turkish by Hakan Taş. This instrument consists of two sections: PLAYfun, which assesses the level of physical skills, and PLAYself, which evaluates the psychological domain. According to the findings, students were most active during the summer season, showing a greater preference for activities in open areas and playgrounds. Moderate levels of participation were observed in gymnasium and water-based activities, while activities conducted on ice and snow were rarely preferred. When comparing gender differences, psychological domain scores were found to be similar (girls: 2.89; boys: 2.85), whereas boys (2.68) scored higher than girls (2.44) in physical skills. Notably, boys outperformed girls particularly in running, locomotor skills, object control, and balance abilities. In terms of grade level, it was observed that physical skill levels increased as educational grade advanced, with 8th-grade students achieving higher scores compared to students from other grades. In conclusion, it was determined that middle school students exhibited generally high psychological domain scores with no significant gender differences, while boys demonstrated higher physical skill levels, and physical competencies improved progressively with increasing grade level. Based on these findings, it is recommended that supportive educational programs aimed at enhancing the physical skills of female students be developed, and that efforts to promote sustainable physical literacy be reinforced across all grade levels.