The Structural and Convergent Validity of the FMS[superscript 2] Assessment Tool among 8- to 12-Year-Old Children

Although there is a plethora of tools available to assess children's movement competence (MC), the literature suggests that many have significant limitations (e.g. not being practical for use in many 'real-world' settings). The FMS[superscript 2] assessment tool has recently been developed as a targeted solution to many of the existing barriers preventing practitioners from utilising MC assessments. The aim of this study was to investigate the structural and convergent validity of this new tool among 8- to 12-year-old Irish primary school children. As part of this study, 102 children (56.8% female, mean = 9.8 years) were assessed using the FMS[superscript 2], the Test of Gross Motor Development (3rd edition) (TGMD-3) (short version) and the Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™). Structural validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The convergent validity between the FMS[superscript 2], the TGMD-3 (short version) and the FMS™ was investigated using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Results of CFA for the FMS[superscript 2] indicate a good fit model, supporting a three-factor structure (locomotor, object manipulation, and stability). Additional findings indicate a moderate, positive correlation between the FMS[superscript 2] and the TGMD-3 (short version) (r = 0.66), with a low, positive correlation between the FMS[superscript 2] and the FMS™ (r = 0.48). This study presents the first preliminary findings to suggest that the FMS[superscript 2] may be a versatile, time-efficient, and ecologically valid tool to measure children's MC in multiple settings (e.g. research, education, sport, athletic therapy, and physiotherapy). Future research should also seek to continue to implement this solution, consolidate the existing validity findings with a larger and more diverse sample, and further explore the feasibility of the tool in 'real-world' settings.