Examining the construct validity of the FMS ² assessment tool

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 practical for use in ‘real-world’ settings). The FMS 2 assessment tool has recently emerged as a valid and feasible alternative to existing measures. The aim of this study was to examine the construct validity of the FMS 2 among 10- to 13-year-old children in primary school in Ireland. As part of this study, 246 children (50% boys, M age = 11.25 years) were assessed using the FMS 2 assessment tool at two time points, eight weeks apart. Structural validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. Results indicated acceptable model fit for each individual factor (locomotor, object manipulation, and stability) at both time points, although stronger fit statistics were observed at the second time point. Further, each factor demonstrated measurement invariance between the two time points. When combined into a single model, model fit was inadequate, suggesting that the individual components, while related, are distinct constructs. Boys demonstrated significantly higher MC scores than girls at both time points, while no significant age-related differences were observed. The findings of this study suggest that the FMS 2 assessment tool has good structural validity, and is consistent when measuring children's MC proficiency over time.