RESUMO
Objective@#The cross-sectional study examined associations between gross motor competence and physical fitness in 3-5 years old children.@*Methods@#A convenient sampling method was used to select 201 children aged 3-5 years, to assess gross motor competence, each child accomplished the Test of Gross Motor Development-3(TGMD-3). The level of physical fitness was measured by National Physical Fitness Test, comprising eight different tasks including height, weight, flexibility(sit-and-reach test), balance (walking on a balance beam), explosive force(Standing long jump), strength(Tennis ball throwing), agility(10-shuttle-run test), strength and coordination(Continuous foot jump).@*Results@#With the increase of age, the scores of locomotor skills，object control skills, gross motor competence, height, weight, walking on a balance beam, continuous foot jump, tennis ball throwing and standing long jump were better(P<0.01). Significant differences were not found in the gross motor competence, locomotor skills, 10-shuttle-run test, continuous foot jump, standing long jump and walking on a balance beam(P>0.05). In the object control skills and tennis ball throwing, the boys showed a greater performance(P<0.01). In the sit-and-reach test, girls showed a greater performance(P<0.01). The results revealed a significant relationship between gross motor competence and the following items: 10-shuttle-run test, continuous foot jump, standing long jump, walking on a balance beam, tennis ball throwing(P<0.05). There were no associations among gross motor competence, BMI(r=0.02), sit-and-reach test(r=0.07). There were no associations between gross motor competence and physical fitness in 3-5 years old(r=-0.13-0.21), except for 5 years old children’s object control skills and continuous foot jump(r=0.42). Sex, age, height , BMI (R2=0.05,F=2.62, P>0.05) as well as gross motor competence(△R2=0.04, F=2.00, P>0.05) did not predict physical fitness.@*Conclusion@#The results indicated a relationship between motor competence and physical fitness in 3-5 years old. In order to increase the level of physical fitness, the educators should pay attention to the development of children’s gross motor.