Abstract
Sport-based early childhood centers have become increasingly popular as parents seek structured physical activities to support children’s holistic development. These programs, often inspired by commercial sport academies, emphasize active movement, fundamental skills, and early exposure to athletic experiences. This study aims to describe coaches’ perspectives on motor growth in young children participating in sport-based early childhood programs. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected from sport coaches through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and documentation of daily training activities. Participants were coaches working with children aged 4–6 years across selected sport-based learning centers. Findings reveal that coaches perceive early motor development as a dynamic process shaped by repetition, confidence building, and varied movement experiences. Coaches noted significant progress in children’s balance, coordination, agility, and control of movement after consistent participation in structured sport sessions. They also emphasized the importance of play-centered training methods, integrating fun, exploration, and simple sport drills tailored to young children’s developmental readiness. Additionally, coaches identified challenges such as differing levels of motor readiness, short attention spans, and varying parental expectations regarding children’s performance. Despite these challenges, coaches believe that sport-based environments provide valuable opportunities for children to experience both as physical achievements and developmental milestones. These centers offer alternative pathways to support motor growth beyond traditional classroom settings. The study concludes that the role of coaches is central in facilitating positive motor development, and it highlights the need for continuous collaboration between teachers, parents, and sport instructors to optimize children’s physical growth. Future studies may explore comparative outcomes between school-based and academy-based motor programs.