What are Fundamental Movement Skills?

In developing and teaching a child, we break down simple skills into key components to help the child learn and understand. In teaching a child to read, we teach them about letters and the sounds they make, and how to combine words so that they are comfortable with language and can grow into advanced readers. In math, we teach children the value of numbers and simple addition and subtraction for them to grow to understand complex problems of all different types. In teaching movement we want to do the exact same thing!

Physical literacy is the ability for an individual to move competently and confidently in all types of environments -- it is the literacy of movement. The key components of physical literacy, the letter and words, if you will, are the fundamental movement skills!

Fundamental movement skills are very important in physical development of a child. When a child is confident and competent with these skills, they can develop sport-specific and complex movement skills that allow them to enjoy sport and physical activity. Most importantly, having a firm grasp of the fundamental movement skils and being physically literate leads a child to enjoy a long life of physical activity.

FMS

The Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) of throwing, catching, jumping, striking, running, kicking, agility, and balance and coordination, form the basis for future sport skill development and for the life-long enjoyment of physical activity. Learn how to OBSERVE and IMPROVE the fundamental movement skills through the format listed below which is best suited to you and your line of work (also see the Professional Development page for FMS PD).

Community Leader
Target: Recreation leaders, sport camp leaders, etc.
Format: 8 hour workshop.

High School Leadership
Target: High school students.
Format: Composed of 9 lesson plans delivered by the Physical Education Teacher at your school.

The FMS module will give participants the skills to:

• analyze and identify the various stages of development for the fundamental movement skills;
• apply a six-step process to teaching the fundamental movement skills;
• create safe games where children can practise fundamental movement skills.