Improving short-distance sprint performance through the Teaching at the Right Level approach
Keywords:
Fartlek training, Continuous run, Cardiorespiratory endurance, Pencak silatAbstract
Background: Physical literacy encompasses motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding that support lifelong engagement in physical activity. Assessing physical literacy in children requires instruments that are contextually relevant and demonstrate adequate psychometric properties.
Objective: This study aimed to provide preliminary psychometric evidence for culturally adapted versions of PLAYfun and PLAYself in the Indonesian context by examining item–total relationships and internal consistency among elementary school students.
Methods: A total of 71 fifth-grade students aged 10–11 years from three elementary schools in Pekalongan Regency participated in the study. PLAYfun comprised 18 motor-skill assessment items, whereas PLAYself consisted of 21 self-report items. Two PLAYself activities were modified to improve their geographical and cultural relevance to the Indonesian context. Item–total relationships were examined using Pearson correlations and corrected item–total correlations (CITC), while internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha.
Results: For PLAYfun, item–total correlations ranged from 0.504 to 0.893, with very high internal consistency (α = 0.955). For PLAYself, item–total correlations ranged from 0.265 to 0.912, with high internal consistency (α = 0.895). However, five PLAYself items (PS5, PS6, PS7, PS8, and PS19) showed CITC values below 0.30, indicating relatively weak contributions to scale consistency and suggesting the need for further evaluation.
Conclusion: These findings provide preliminary psychometric support for PLAYfun and PLAYself within the elementary-school context examined; however, further validation involving larger and more diverse samples, factor-structure analyses, and additional reliability testing is required before broader use.
Downloads
References
Altmann, S., Ringhof, S., Neumann, R., Woll, A., & Rumpf, M. C. (2019). Validity and reliability of speed tests used in soccer: A systematic review. PloS one, 14(8), e0220982. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220982
American College of Sports Medicine. (2021). ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Ananda, D., & Adi, P. (2024). Implementasi Pembelajaran Berdiferensiasi Dengan Pendekatan Teaching At The Right Level Dalam Pembelajaran Memaknai Informasi Teks Berita Kelas VII SMPN 2 Pakis. Jurnal Pembelajaran, Bimbingan, Dan Pengelolaan Pendidikan, 4(2), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.17977/um065.v4.i2.2024.8
Baharuddin, S. H., Herdiansyah, H., Mahendra, A., Aswar, M., & Dwiwahyudi, D. (2026). Fundamental movement skills in Indonesian elementary school children: a systematic review of assessment, pedagogy, and motor competence. Edu Sportivo: Indonesian Journal of Physical Education, 7(2), 127-151. https://doi.org/10.25299/esijope.2026.vol7(2).19682
Banerjee, A., Banerji, R., Berry, J., Duflo, E., Kannan, H., Mukerji, S., Shotland, M., & Walton, M. (2017). From proof of concept to scalable policies: Challenges and solutions, with an application. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(4), 73-102. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.31.4.73
Banerjee, A., Grantham-McGregor, S., Banerji, R., Muralidharan, K., Yoshikawa, H., Saavedra, J., ... & Glennerster, R. (2023). Cost-Effective Approaches to Improve Global Learning: Smart Buys for Low-Income Countries (p. 37). Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the World Bank, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Bao, R., Wade, L., Leahy, A. A., Owen, K. B., Hillman, C. H., Jaakkola, T., & Lubans, D. R. (2024). Associations between motor competence and executive functions in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 54, 2141-2156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02040-1
Barnett, L. M., Jerebine, A., Keegan, R., Watson-Mackie, K., Arundell, L., Ridgers, N. D., Salmon, J., & Dudley, D. (2023). Validity, reliability, and feasibility of physical literacy assessments designed for school children: A systematic review. Sports Medicine, 53(10), 1905-1929. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01867-4
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dudley, D., Mackenzie, E., Van Bergen, P., Cairney, J., & Barnett, L. (2022). What drives quality physical education? A systematic review and meta-analysis of learning and development effects from physical education-based interventions. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 799330. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.799330
Dutrisac, S., Bearden, A. G., Borgel, J., Weddell, R., Jones, M., & Oddie, S. (2023). A tailored physical education program enhances elementary students' self-efficacy, attitudes, and motivation to engage in physical activity. Psychology in the Schools, 60(9), 3419-3434. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22927
Hartono, M., Kurniawan, W. R., Wijayanti, D. G. S., & Amran, A. (2025). Implementing TaRL in physical education: Mastering specific skills in soccer games for junior high school students. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 44(1), 156-168. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v44i1.78524
Liu, C. L., Cao, Y., Zhang, Z., Gao, R., & Qu, G. (2023). Correlation of fundamental movement skills with health-related fitness elements in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1129258. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1129258
Lorås, H. (2020). The effects of physical education on motor competence in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports, 8(6), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8060088
Mahisna, A. B., Faridli, E. M., & Soimah. (2024). Penerapan pendekatan Teaching at the Right Level untuk meningkatkan prestasi belajar peserta didik kelas IV SD. Indonesian Journal of Elementary School, 4(2), 481-494. https://doi.org/10.26877/ijes.v4i2.19777
Nindyatama, M. L., & Maliki, O. (2024). Using the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach at SMA Negeri 2 Semarang, Independent Curriculum in Physical Education learning implementation. Musamus Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 6(4), 793-807. https://ejournal.unmus.ac.id/index.php/physical/article/view/6570
Pangestu, A. Y., & Pratama, D. S. (2025). The influence of Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) learning strategy on physical education learning outcomes: A mixed method study in vocational high schools. Sang Pencerah: Jurnal Ilmiah Universitas Muhammadiyah Buton, 11(1), 122-131. https://doi.org/10.35326/pencerah.v11i1.6970
Prabawanata, I. K. A., Lesmana, K. Y. P., & Satyawan, I. M. (2025). A literature analysis of differentiated instruction as a learning management strategy in physical education. Journal of Physical Education, Health and Sport, 12(2), 661-666. https://doi.org/10.15294/jpehs.v12i2.39967
Prayogo, W. K., & Herlambang, T. (2024). Application of the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) learning method in the physical education curriculum at SMK Negeri 8 Semarang. Musamus Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 6(4), 774-786. https://ejournal.unmus.ac.id/index.php/physical/article/view/6560
Rumpf, M. C., Cronin, J. B., Pinder, S. D., Oliver, J., & Hughes, M. (2012). Effect of different training methods on running sprint times in male youth. Pediatric Exercise Science, 24(2), 170-186. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.24.2.170
Shabrina, Z. ., Sukoriyanto, S., & Wibisono, A. B. . (2024). Systematic Literature Review: Pendekatan Teaching At The Right Level (Tarl) Terhadap Hasil Belajar Matematika Siswa. Jurnal MIPA Dan Pembelajarannya, 4(8), 1. https://doi.org/10.17977/um067v4i8p1
Sugiyono. (2022). Metode penelitian kuantitatif. Alfabeta.
Yeniarti, C. A., Padli, P., Arsil, A., & Ardo Okilanda. (2025). Differentiated instruction, physical fitness, and motivation on PE learning outcomes: a literature review. JPPI (Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Indonesia), 11(4), 200–208. https://doi.org/10.29210/020256678
Downloads
Published
Data Availability Statement
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, subject to appropriate ethical and privacy considerations.
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Putri Diana Sari, Wahyu Indra Bayu, Herri Yusfi, Meirizal Usra (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
DOWNLOAD
