The aim of this master thesis was to determine whether a specifically developed exercise programme improves fundamental motor skills in first grade pupils. The study included 47 pupils attending the 1st grade of the Primary School III in Murska Sobota in the school year 2022/2023. The impact of the exercise programme was tested using the TGMD-3 measurement tasks. The study was conducted as a quasi-experiment, with the experimental group following a 12-hour exercise programme twice a week for 45 minutes. The control group followed a normal class schedule with no adaptations to the content. The results of the measurement tasks were then analysed in terms of pre- and post-intervention scores and in terms of long-term motor skills retention in the intervention group. We found that the 12-hour training programme can influence the development of some fundamental motor skills and that some of the effects of the programme in the experimental group are visible even after a longer period of time. We also found that for one of the tasks (handball skills), there are statistically significant differences in acquisition between boys and girls, where girls performed better than boys. By using a quantitative approach, the study aimed to contribute to more effective physical education lessons at younger ages. Additionally, the results of this study encourage primary school physical education teachers to place more emphasis on the development of fundamental motor skills, as these are important contributors to children's physical, cognitive and social development.
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