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This study examined the existence of a threshold level (proficiency barrier) of actual motor competence (MC) below which a child is not likely to attain 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day.

A cross-sectional study.

Actual MC was assessed in 326 children (48.5% boys; age = 9.50 ± 1.24 years) using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2; MVPA was measured with ActiGraph GT3X + accelerometers. Perceived MC, included as a potential mediating variable, was assessed with the Self-Perception Profile for Children. Binary logistic (mediation) regression analyses controlling for sex and a chi-squared test were used to gain insight into the relationship between (the levels of) actual MC and the percentage of children meeting the MVPA guideline.

Actual MC significantly predicted the percentage of children meeting the guideline (B = .03, SE = .01, p < .001 …