Nine months of a structured multisport program improve physical fitness in preschool childrenPopović, Boris (Avtor) Cvetković, Milan (Avtor) Mačak, Draženka (Avtor) Šćepanović, Tijana (Avtor) Čokorilo, Nebojša (Avtor) Belić, Aleksandra (Avtor) Trajković, Nebojša (Avtor) Andrašić, Slobodan (Avtor) Bogataj, Špela (Avtor) exercise trainingphysical fitnesspreschoolphysical activityResearch in preschool children that investigates the impact of different exercise interventions on physical fitness is limited. This pre–post study was aimed at determining if participation in a nine-month structured multisport program (MSG; n = 38) could enhance physical fitness components compared to a formal exercise program (control group (CG); n = 36) among preschool children. Physical fitness was assessed using standardized tests (the standing long jump, sit and reach, 20 m sprint, sit-ups for 30 s, bent-arm hang, medicine ball throw (MBT), grip strength, 4 × 10 m shuttle run, and 20 m shuttle run tests). The structured multisport program involved fundamental/gross and fine motor skills and ball game-based exercises twice a week. The control group was free of any programmed exercise except for the obligatory program in kindergartens. A mixed ANOVA demonstrated significant group-by-time interaction effects for the 4 × 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump, sit-ups, bent-arm hang, grip strength, and sit and reach tests (p < 0.05). There was no significant group-by-time interaction effect for the 20 m sprint test (p = 0.794) or for the 20 m shuttle run test (p = 0.549). Moreover, the MSG and CG performance in the MBT and 20 m shuttle run tests improved to a similar extent from pre- to post-test. Our results indicate that compared to the formal plan, the structured multisport program led to a sustained improvement in physical fitness in healthy 5-to-6-year old children.20202021-12-16 14:41:33Članek v reviji133845UDK: 796.01ISSN pri članku: 1660-4601DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17144935COBISS_ID: 29274883sl