Iako su spolne razlike zabilježene u mnogim motoričkim zadacima, razlike su minimalne tijekom ranog djetinjstva. U predškolskom razdoblju razlike se počinju povećavati. Bacanje je jedno od najkorisnijih osnovnih motoričkih znanja i uključeno je u razne sportove kao što su bejzbol, softball, košarku, rukomet, nogomet i kriket (Gallahue, Ozmun & Goodway, 2012). Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi razlike u tehnici bacanja lopte i njegovih strukturnih elemenata u predškolskoj djeci. Uzorak se sastojao od 229 predškolske djece dobi od 3 do 7 godina upisanih u tri vrtića u glavnom gradu Hrvatske. Mjerenje tehnike bacanja lopte dio je baterije testova Test of Gross Motor Development - 2 testing kit (Ulrich, 2000). Analiza varijance (ANOVA) i Bonferroni post-hoc test korišteni su za određivanje razlika u tehnici bacanja između dječaka i djevojčica, kao i četiri elemenata tehnike. Glavni rezultati ovog istraživanja pokazuju da postoje značajne razlike između dječaka i djevojčica u bacanju lopte (p <0,05). Bonferroni post-hoc test pokazuje da su dječaci znatno bolji (2,32) u bacanju lopte nego djevojčice (1,20). Nadalje, rezultati pokazuju da su dječaci bolji u svim kriterijima uspješnosti bacanja lopte (p <0,05) (rotacija tijela, suprotna noga prijenosa težine, dijagonalna okretaja ruku nakon bacanja), osim u prvom kriteriju, pripremnom zamahu. Praktična primjena ovog istraživanja podrazumijeva izmjene u predškolskoj nastavi tjelesnog odgoja i organiziranim igrama s loptom kada djevojčice i dječaci zajedno vježbaju.Although gender differences have been noted in many motor tasks, differences are minimal during early childhood. In the pre-school period the differences start to increase. Throwing is one of the most useful basic motor skills and is included in various sports such as baseball, softball, basketball, handball, soccer and cricket (Gallahue, Ozmun & Goodway, 2012). The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the technique of ball throwing and its structural elements in preschool children. The sample consisted of 229 preschool children aged 3 to 7 enrolled in three kindergarten in capital of Croatia. Measurement of the ball throwing technique is part of the Test of Gross Motor Development - 2 testing kit (Ulrich, 2000). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post-hoc test were used to determine differences in throwing technique between boys and girls, as well in four technique elements. The main results of this study show that significant differences exists between boys and girls in the ball throwing (p <0.05). The Bonferroni post-hoc test shows that boys are significantly better (2.32) in ball throw score than girls (1.20). Furthermore, the results show that boys are better at all ball throwing performance criteria (p <0.05)(body rotation, opposite leg transferring weight, diagonal arm swing after throw), except in the first – preparatory arm swing. Practical application of this research would imply modifications of preschool physical education classes and organized games containing ball throw when girls and boys exercise together
