Physical Literacy Assessment: A Conceptualization and Tools

During the recent decade, the concept of physical literacy has gained increasing prominence worldwide. Introduced by Whitehead in the early 1990s, physical literacy was conceptualized as a developmental process encompassing competence in the physical, affective, and cognitive dimensions that should be understood in a holistic manner where the attributes are interconnected and inseparable. Physical literacy has been proposed to associate with several related outcomes, such as physical activity (PA), sport participation, and an overall active lifestyle, as well as other health behaviors and outcomes. Due to the potential of the concept, there has been an increased interest in assessing physical literacy, especially among school-aged children and adolescents. The purpose of present chapter is to explore what is currently known regarding physical literacy assessment tools, the validity of the tools, and the association between physical literacy and PA participation and health and well-being among school-aged children and adolescents.