Analysis of Gross Motor Skills of Elementary School Children Through the Traditional Gobak Sodor Game

Abstract

The development of gross motor skills in elementary school students has become a concern amid increasing sedentary lifestyles and declining play-based physical activity. This study aimed to describe the profile of students’ gross motor skills through the traditional game Gobak Sodor using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2). A descriptive quantitative method was employed involving 30 students of SDN Kebraon 2 Surabaya (17 boys and 13 girls) aged 9–10 years. The assessment included locomotor and object control subtests to obtain the Gross Motor Quotient (GMQ). Results indicated that most students were categorized as Poor (36.7%) and Average (33.3%), followed by Below Average (26.7%) and Above Average (3.3%). Object control scores were higher than locomotor skills, indicating an imbalance in fundamental movement mastery. These findings suggest that students’ gross motor skills have not developed optimally. Gobak Sodor has potential as a culturally relevant physical activity to support more effective and meaningful physical education learning.

Keywords: Gross motor skills, Gobak Sodor, TGMD-2, elementary school, traditional games.