Specifically, you can think of the following research questions (for example): How can we stimulate motor development and an active lifestyle in children? How can we help children find the sport that suits them best, and how can we help them in their development towards peak performance? How do you prevent injuries and optimize athletic performance? How do people use vision to control their actions?
Our driving force is working together to develop knowledge on (mechanisms of) human movement and performance. We apply this scientific knowledge to optimize movement and performance in the context of sport and exercise. We do this by enhancing physical activity levels, motor performance and athletic performance allowing individuals to unlock their fullest potential. Our interdisciplinary research is set in laboratory, sport and school settings.
Our research focuses on four research themes:
Children need adequate motor skills for successful participation in physical activity and sports. A physically active lifestyle impacts children's cognitive and social-emotional development and their physical and mental health. Special attention is given to children who tend to be less active nowadays, as well as to children with developmental problems, such as behavioural or learning problems. In this topic we aim to understand motor development from an (social) ecological perspective. In addition, we study how aspects of motor development and physical activity are intertwined with cognitive development and mental health throughout childhood. We use these insights and theoretical frameworks for behavioural change to develop, evaluate and implement school-based interventions. In science, we contribute to the development of knowledge about child development in sports and exercise. Additionally, we aim to impact society by providing all children with opportunities to adopt an active lifestyle. We seek to raise awareness of the importance of this among the children themselves, as well as their parents, school professionals and policymakers.
Fit en Vaardig op School (Physically active learning at school)
Physically active learning matters in special needs education. Physically active learning (PAL) is an innovative approach to education that breaks the routine of students sitting still during the school day, without losing valuable instructional time. The evidence-based curriculum "Fit en Vaardig op School" allows students in regular primary education to engage in active learning during math and language lessons. To date, there is no active learning program specifically designed for students in special primary education (SBO). For these students, who often have low physical activity levels, learning challenges, and limited motor skills, PAL could provide a solution to enhance both their academic performance and learning behavior, while also boosting their physical activity levels. The goal of this study is to develop and test active learning lessons for children in SBO, in co-creation with professionals from the education field.
More information? Contact Esther Hartman.
Uniek in je Motoriek
Motor skills in typically developing children have declined in recent decades. These skills are an important factor in developing a physically active lifestyle. In this study, we identify risk or enabling factors for childhood motor performance. Additionally, we investigate the development of the quality of motor skills in typically developing children as well as in children from special populations. The results provide valuable insights that can be used for the development of targeted motor interventions.
More information? Contact Esther Hartman or Marina Schoemaker.
Lifestyle of Our Kids (LOOK) - project on personalized connected health in children
Large proportions of children in European countries do not meet physical activity (PA) recommendations and spend a lot of time sedentary. There is a value in enhancing awareness of PA behavior and its determinants in children and their parents in order to change PA behavior, as it is an essential precursor to behavioral change itself. The current study explores the subjective perceptions and experiences of assessments related to PA and its underlying determinants in children and their parents, and how they value feedback on these aspects.
More information? Contact Esther Hartman.
The overarching aim is to understand the development of youth athletes’ sports performance towards peak performance in relation to the requirements of the task, the athletes’ multidimensional personal characteristics and their environment. The studies, which take place in a variety of sports among youth athletes throughout adolescence, are characterized by their multidimensional and longitudinal design and can be placed in the Groningen Sport Talent Model (GSTM). Modified after Newell's constraints-led approach this model shows the hypothetical contribution of the task, person and the environmental to the development of sport performance in youth athletes. The personal characteristics can be divided in several categories of multidimensional performance characteristics such as anthropometric, physiological, technical, tactical, and psychological characteristics. These characteristics determine the performance on tasks within the sport and are influenced by processes of maturation, learning and training. Environmental characteristics include variables such as the sport federation, training content, trainers/coaches, parents and peers.
Example projects:
We apply tools from Ecological Psychology and Dynamical Systems to study sports situations, both for the application in practical sports settings and to further our understanding of human actions in general. In general, we seek to develop accounts of coordination of players’ movements (teammates or opponents) and of players and targets (such as balls).
To optimize performance and prevent injuries in team sports, training needs to be balanced with sufficient recovery. On top of that, psychosocial factors play a key role. To understand this delicate balance, we aim to 1) quantify physical and psychosocial load and recovery, 2) relate these factors to relevant outcomes such as performance tests, and 3) develop intervention to guide training. Furthermore, we analyze matches to understand the tactical performance of individuals and teams.
Example projects:
Department of Human Movement Sciences
Internal postcode FA23
PO Box 998
9700 AZ Groningen
The Netherlands
Visiting address
Antonius Deusinglaan 1
9713 AV Groningen
building 3215, 3th floor
