Motor fitness is a term that describes an athlete’s ability to perform effectively during sports or other physical activity. An athlete’s motor fitness is a combination of five different components, each of which is essential for high levels of performance. Improving fitness involves a training regimen in all five.
There are many different manifestations of fitness. Some examples include strength, stamina, speed, and flexibility. Certain types of fitness, such as an athlete’s cardiac fitness level, are more important than others. An athlete needs to be aware of the various types of fitness to develop an effective training program that focuses on weak or important areas.
Motor fitness, or motor physical fitness, refers to how an athlete can perform at his or her sport, and involves a mixture of agility, coordination, balance, power, and reaction time. Improving this form of fitness is an indirect result of training in any of these attributes. All five components of fitness are essential for competing at high levels, which is why the concept is seen as an essential part of any athlete’s training regime.
Agility refers to the body’s ability to perform quick movements in different directions. It is sometimes described as how fast an athlete is able to change direction while competing on the field or on the court. Improving agility often involves sprinting between cones that are placed at a variety of angles.
Coordination is more difficult to describe than agility because it cannot be observed directly. An athlete with a high level of coordination is able to combine all forms of fitness — not just those that are part of motor fitness — in an effective and controlled way. The more coordinated an athlete is, the more efficient he or she will be during competitive activities.
Power refers to the athlete’s ability to contract his or her muscles forcefully in an explosive movement. Most people have an intuitive sense of what power is, and why it’s important for sports. Powerful athletes are not merely strong; they are able to use that strength quickly and efficiently.
Balance and reaction time are two other important parts of motor fitness. Balance is an athlete’s ability to control his or her body’s movements, while reaction time is how quickly the athlete can respond to a changing situation. Improving all five components of motor fitness is important for any athlete who wants to achieve his or her best.
