Sports and physical activity program implementation and perceived motor development among university student-athletes

This study examined the relationship between the extent of sports and physical activity program implementation and perceived motor development among university student-athletes at Batangas State University – The National Engineering University (BatStateU-TNEU). Using a quantitative correlational research design, the study assessed four dimensions of program implementation—training and organization, resource and facility management, coaching and instructional support, and monitoring and performance evaluation—and their association with perceived motor development in terms of locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills. Data were collected from 300 campus-based student-athletes across five constituent campuses using a validated researcher-made questionnaire, with motor development measured as self-reported or perceived competence adapted from the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Second Edition (MABC-2). Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s product–moment correlation coefficient were employed for data analysis. Results indicated that sports and physical activity programs were implemented to a very great extent (M = 3.45), while student-athletes reported a highly developed level of perceived motor competence (M = 3.49). A strong and statistically significant positive association was found between overall program implementation and perceived motor development (r = 0.763, p < 0.05), with coaching and instructional support demonstrating the strongest relationship. The findings indicate that higher levels of structured training, coaching support, and program organization are meaningfully associated with higher levels of perceived motor competence among university student-athletes. While causal conclusions cannot be drawn, the results provide empirical support for strengthening sports and physical activity program implementation in higher education. An enhancement framework is proposed to guide evidence-informed program development and support student-athlete motor competence within institutional sports systems