{
  "abstract": "This study examined the acute and lasting effects of a recreational target games program on sensorimotor performance in boys aged 10-14 years. Sixty-nine students from Konya, Türkiye were assigned to a Target Games Activity Group (TGAG, n = 22), a Control Group (CG, n = 24), and an Active Control Group (ACG, n = 23) completing a general recreational games program without target-based content. Following orientation and baseline testing, the TGAG completed a 6-week target games program (three sessions per week, 45 min per session); post-test and 4-week follow-up assessments followed. Reaction time, upper-limb movement speed, dynamic balance, and change-of-direction speed were assessed using the Nelson Hand Reaction Test, the Modified Bass Test, the Pro-Agility Test, and the Eurofit Plate Tapping Test. Data were analyzed using Two-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons, supplemented by pre-test-adjusted ANCOVA models testing between-group differences directly. The Time × Group interaction was significant for all four outcomes. Pre-test-adjusted analyses showed the TGAG differed significantly from both control groups at follow-up on all four measures, with effect sizes ranging from small (reaction time, upper-limb movement speed) to large (dynamic balance, change-of-direction speed); its advantage over the ACG was significant at post-test on three measures, emerging only at follow-up for upper-limb movement speed. The ACG's post-test gains, where present, were not retained at follow-up. These findings indicate that recreational target games are a promising intervention for improving sensorimotor performance in boys aged 10-14 years, with gains evident at the 4-week follow-up.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Faculty of Sports Sciences, Selçuk University, Konya, Türkiye."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mehmet Altin"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/760dbfke8hc8h.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fcogn.2026.1968283",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13739654",
  "id": "760dbfke8hc8h",
  "issns": [
    "2813-4532"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42996272",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3204|Children's Physical and Motor Development"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223325025",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13739654?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13739654",
  "pmid": "42996272",
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/760dbfke8hc8h.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T15:20:34Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42996272",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42996272"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:2805|Memory Processes and Influences",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Recreational target games improve sensorimotor performance in boys aged 10-14 years: a randomized controlled trial with 4-week follow-up.",
  "title_text": "Recreational target games improve sensorimotor performance in boys aged 10-14 years: a randomized controlled trial with 4-week follow-up.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-10T03:20:49Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/760dbfke8hc8h",
  "venue": "Frontiers in cognition",
  "versions": []
}