Movement skills have something--but not everything--to do with how active kids are. Researchers studied movement skills in over 1,800 teens. The skills were running, jumping, catching, throwing, striking, and kicking. These skills predicted how much time teens spent in organized physical activity, such as basketball and tennis. (Interestingly, this result did not hold for "nonorganized" physical activity, such as pick-up games and doing things for fun.)

The link between skills and activity was especially strong for girls. For girls, improving skills just a little might mean doing 50 more minutes of physical activity a week. Because boys are generally more encouraged to do sports, skills may not be as important for them.

Keeping active during the teenage years could make for a lifetime of healthy habits. Movement skills need to be learned early, such as during preschool, to get the most benefit.