PDFE #6

In this lab, we tested the individual differences in the ability to balance. Both static and dynamic balancing tasks were used to conduct the test. The goal of this lab was to show that a general motor ability does not exist. This argument is supported by making the inference that because there are individual differences in balancing abilities, there are individual differences in all motor abilities. These individual strengths and weaknesses in various abilities are influenced by various factors such as an individual’s personal experiences, heredity, and amount of exposure to a skill. Our group consisted of 6 students including myself, and everyone in the group participated in each test. The balancing tests performed include the stork stand, the diver’s stand, the heel stand, the sideward leap, the bass stepping-stone, and the book-balancing walk (3 static tests and 3 dynamic tests). For each of the tests conducted, there were different rankings of everyone in our group; however, there were 2 participants that consistently ranked in the top 3. These participants’ performance showed that they have more of an ability to balance than the other participants. The participant that had the greatest ability to balance out of our test group used to be a cheerleader, which proves that an individual’s personal experiences and exposure to certain activities can influence their various motor abilities. This lab was fun…it allowed each student to see where they stand in their ability to balance in comparison to other classmates. It was interesting to see first-hand how the factors and backgrounds associated with each student really did influence the individual differences in performance on the balance tests. I agree with the argument the lab was trying to prove, which was: there is a variation of individual strengths and weaknesses in the motor ability to balance, so there are variations of individual strengths and weaknesses in all motor abilities.