MOVE + PLAY Laboratory

Move + Play Laboratory 

The Move + Play Laboratory is located in the HPER Building on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus.  This laboratory space houses specialized equipment used to conduct empirical research within the areas of motor development and pediatric exercise physiology.  The Move + Play Lab is equipped to assess motor development and proficiency, physical activity, physical fitness, and cognitive function and academic achievement in a variety of pediatric populations. Specifically, the lab investigates the interplay between fundamental motor skills, physical activity behaviors, cognition, and health-related outcomes across school, home, and outdoor settings.

The Move + Play Lab is equipped with a variety of assessment tools including: 

• Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer-based devices

• Actical accelerometer-based devices 

• Polar heart rate monitors 

• Portable Stadiometer, weight scales, medical scales  

• Test of Gross Motor Development – 3rd Edition (TGMD-3) 

• Movement Assessment Battery for Children – 3rd Edition (MABC-3) 

• Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency – 2nd Edition (BOT-2) 
• FitnessGram Test Battery 
• Stalker Radar Gun

• Physical Activity Equipment [balls, cones, hoops, bean bags, poly spots, etc.] 

• Treadmill 

• Lode Pediatric Cycle 

• 4 Computer workstations 

• HDR Camcorders 

• Samsung Tablets 

• iPads 

• Oxycon Mobile Portable Metabolic Units 

• Parvomedics Metabolic Cart 

• Stadiometers/ Portable Medical Scales

Lab activities cover data collection, study design, outcome evaluation, data analysis, and development and implementation of interventions. The lab computers are networked and equipped with software for data processing, including SPSS, ActiLife, device-specific programs, and Noldus Observer XT. 

Lab Co-Directors 

Laboratory Co-Director: E. Kipling Webster, PhD 

Dr. Webster’s research is dedicated to advancing early childhood health by improving motor skills and physical activity. Through innovative assessments, interventions, and policy initiatives conducted in both home- and school-based settings, her work targets these foundational health behaviors to support children’s physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. By promoting active lifestyles from a young age, Dr. Webster aims to set children on a trajectory toward lifelong health and well-being. 

Laboratory Co-Director: Dawn P. Coe, PhD, FACSM 

Dr. Coe’s research focuses on physical activity assessment, outdoor and playground play, and the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in pediatric populations. 

Dr. Coe is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research aimed at optimizing activity behaviors and fostering cognitive development in young children through motor skill acquisition and the promotion of activity and play behaviors. 

Student Research Assistants 

Doctoral Student  

Dimetri Brandon, MS 

My name is Dimetri Brandon, and I am a third-year PhD student in the Move+ Play lab. I am originally from Columbus, Ohio, where I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees before coming to Tennessee in 2023 to begin my doctoral studies. I am mentored by Dr. Kip Webster and co-mentored by Dr. Coe. My research focuses on two primary areas: (1) examining how home environments and contextual factors serve as facilitators or barriers to motor skill development, and (2) evaluating the effectiveness of motor skill interventions. Outside of school, I enjoy exploring the outdoors around Knoxville and spending time with friends, often relaxing at local breweries while watching sports and cheering on THE Ohio State Buckeyes. 

Masters Students 

Devin Ellison

My name is Devin Ellison, and I am currently a 2nd-year master’s student in the Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior program at UTK. I am from Jacksonville, Florida, and part of a long line of University of Tennessee alumni. I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Health and Medical Sciences from The Georgia Institute of Technology. I am passionate about building youth programs that integrate movement, mental health, and social awareness, especially for underserved communities. My mentor, Dr. Webster, has been an integral part of my graduate experience and has deepened my interest in pediatrics. In my free time, I enjoy football, making music, and coding!

Abigail Lovingood 

My name is Abigail “Abby” Lovingood, and I am currently a 2nd-year Master’s student in the Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior program at UTK. I was born and raised in Tennessee in a small town about an hour from Knoxville, and completed my bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at UTK.  I am currently mentored by Dr. Kip Webster. My main research interests include looking at pediatric motor development and how that is affected by factors in their environment, such as parental screen time. When I am not working on school or research, I love spending time outdoors with my partner and dogs or reading a good book.  

Meghan McKenzie 

My name is Meghan McKenzie, and I am a second year master’s student in the Exercise Physiology program here at The University of Tennessee Knoxville. I work with Dr. Coe, and my research interests include physical activity, physical fitness, cognition, and academic performance in pediatric populations.  

Undergraduate Students 

• Coming Soon! 

Here you will find information about our recent research studies.   

1. International Surveillance Study of 24-Hour Movement Behaviours in the Early Years: The SUNRISE Study 

This study investigates the proportion of 3- and 4-year-old children who meet the WHO global guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, and examines how these proportions differ by sex, socioeconomic status, and urban/rural residence across different levels of human and economic development. Secondary aims explore associations between meeting these guidelines and health or developmental outcomes, as well as identifying individual, family, and community factors related to movement behaviors in early childhood. 

2. Physical activity, fundamental motor skill development, motor proficiency, and cognitive function in preschool children 

There is a growing focus on the relationship between physical activity and motor and cognitive development. The development of the brain depends on the health of the body and is especially important in young children to foster physical and intellectual potential. The primary objective of this study is to determine the associations among physical activity, fundamental motor skill development, motor proficiency, and cognitive function in preschool children (3-6 years). 

3. Evaluating the motor proficiency of youth with and without autism spectrum disorder using standard procedures and social narratives 

The purpose of the study is to compare motor proficiency performance using the standardized Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency – 2nd Edition, Short Form (BOT-2 SF) assessment protocol with administration of BOT-2 SF using a social narrative in typically developing children and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  

We are currently enrolling participants for this study.  If you are interested in your child participating, please contact us at utkmoveandplay@utk.edu.  

Peer-review Journal Articles 

1. Coe, D. P., Post, E. M., Fitzhugh, E. C., Fairbrother, J. T., & Webster, E. K. (2024). Associations among Motor Competence, Physical Activity, Perceived Motor Competence, and Aerobic Fitness in 10-15-Year-Old Youth. Children, 11(2), 260. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11020260 
2. Brandon, D.*, Carlson, T.J., Lovingood, A.*, Hornyak, A.*, Ellison, D.*, & Webster, E.K. (in press). Examining Gender and BMI Differences in MABC-3 Performance Among 18-25 Year Olds. Journal of Motor Learning and Development.  
3. Makaruk, H., Webster, E.K., Porter, J., Makaruk, B., Zielinski, J., Tomaszewski, P., Nogal, M., Starzak, M., Sliwa, M., Biegajlo, M., Chaliburda, A., Suchecki, B., Molik, B., & Sadowski, J. (2025). Assessing fundamental motor skills proficiency in school-based sports physical education programs: Implications for talent development. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 7, 1632930. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1632930 
4. Makaruk, H., Porter, J.M., Webster, E.K., Makaruk, B., Tomaszewski, P., Nogal, M., Gawłowski, D., Sobański, L., Molik, B. & Sadowski, J. (2025). Artificial intelligence-enhanced assessment of fundamental motor skills: Validity and reliability of the FUS test for jumping rope performance. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 8,1611534. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2025.1611534 
5. Staiano, A.E., Saha, S., Beyl, R.A., Kracht, C.L., Newton, Jr., R.L., & Webster, E.K.† (2025). Parental engagement and implementation fidelity in a mHealth motor skills intervention for young children. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 30(4), 390-402. https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2023.2235394. 
6. Kwofie, N., Reilly, J.J., Janssen, X., Okely, A.D., Hossain, M.S., Florindo, A.A., Tremblay, M.S., Guan, H.H., Chan, C.H.S., Webster, E.K., Suherman, A., Draper, C.E., Munambah, N., El Hamdouchi, A., Koh, D., Kim, T.V., Tang, H.K., Lof, M., Tanaka, C., Ha, A.S., Staiano, A.E., Wickramasinghe, P., Pham, B.N., & Kim, D.H. (2025). Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3-4 year olds: A secondary data analysis from the SUNRISE International Study. Child: Care, Health, and Development, 51(3), e70092. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cch.70092 
7. Brandon, D.*, Famelia, R., Goodway, J.D., & Webster, E.K. (2025). Summer Success: SKIPing to motor competence for disadvantaged preschoolers. Children, 12(5), 578. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12050578  
8. Zhang, Z., Abdeta, C., Chelly, M.S. del Pozo Cruz, J., Germana, L., Ghofranipour, F., Ha, A.S-C., El Hamdouchi, A., Hong, T.K., Hossain, M.S., Jambaldorj, B., Koh, D.C.L., Kontsevaya, A., Löf, M., Lubree, H., Jáuregui, A., Mwase-Vuma, T., Oluchiri, A.M., Oluwayomi, A., Reilly, J.J., Roos, E., Staiano, A.E., Suherman, A., Tanaka, C., Teo, W-P., Turab, A., Užičanin, E., Veldman, S.L.C., Webster, E.K., Wickramasinghe, P., Widyastari, D.A., & Okely, A.D. (2025). Measurement properties of SUNRISE Study Parent Questionnaire for assessing sleep and sleep-related family practices. Sleep Health: Journal of the National Sleep Foundation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2025.04.006 
9. Spring, K.E., Staiano, A.E., Brandon, D.A.*, Okely, A.D., & Webster, E.K. † (2025). The associations of SUNRISE product-oriented gross motor skills with process-oriented TGMD-3. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 13(2), 506-522. https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2024-0097. 
10. Zhang, Z., Abdeta, C., Chelly, M.S. del Pozo Cruz, J., Draper, C., Florindo, A., Germana, L., Guan, H., Ghofranipour,, F., Ha, A.S-C., Guan, H., El Hamdouchi, A., Hong, T.K., Hossain, M.S., Jambaldorj, B., Koh, D.C.L.,  Kontsevaya, A., Löf, M., Lubree, H., Jáuregui, A., Munambah, N.D., Mwase-Vuma, T., Oluchiri, A.M., Kim, D.H., Koh, D.C.L., Oluwayomi, A., Pham, B.N.,  Reilly, J.J., Roos, E., Staiano, A.E., Suherman, A., Tanaka, C., Teo, W-P., Tremblay, M., Turab, A., Užičanin, E., Veldman, S.L.C., Webster, E.K., Wickramasinghe, P., Widyastari, D.A., & Okely, A.D. (2024). Geocultural differences in pre-schooler sleep profiles and family sleep practices: an analysis of pooled data from 37 countries. Sleep, 48, zsae305. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae305  
11. Bandeira, P.F.R, Lemos, L.F., Estevan, I., Webster, E.K., Clark, C.C.T., Duncan, M.J., Mota, J., & Martins, C.M.L. (2025). Are we assessing motor competence? Evidence-informed constructs for motor competence in preschoolers through an Exploratory Graph Analysis. Journal of Sport Sciences, 43(1), 109-116. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2024.2414361. 
12. Martins, C.L., Valentini, N.C., Sääkslahti, A., Africa, E.K., Webster, E.K., Nobre, G., Robinson, L.E., Duncan, M., Tortella, P., Bandeira, P.F., & Barnett, L.M. (2024). Motor Competence – the key to support healthy development of 3- to-5- year-old children: An expert statement on behalf of the International Motor Development Research Consortium. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 12(3), 437-454. https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2023-0055 
13. Martins, C., Webster, E.K., Romo-Perez, V., Duncan, M., Lemos, L.F., Staiano, A., Okely, A., Magistro, D., Carlevaro, F., Bardid, F., Magno, F., Nobre, G., Estevan, I., Mota, J., King, N., Robinson, L.E., Lenoir, M., Quan, M., Valentini, N., Dehkordi, P.S., Cross, P., Jones, R., Henrique, R.S., Salami, S., Chen, S., Diao, Y., Bandeira, P.R., & Barnett, L.M. (2024). Sex differences in 3-to-5 year-old children’s motor competence: A pooled cross-sectional analysis of 6241 children. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 34, e14651. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14651  
14. Reilly, J.J., Andrew, R., Abdeta, C., Azevedo, L.B., Aguilar-Farias, N., Barak, S., Bardid, F., Bizzozero-Peroni, B., Brazo-Sayavera, J., Cagas, J.Y., Carrizales-Ramos, R., Chelly, M.-S., Christiansen, L.B., Djordjic, V.D., Draper, C.E., El Hamdouchi, A., Fares, E.-J., Gába A., Heskethm K.D., Hossain, M.S., Huang, W., Jáuregui, A., Juvekar, S.K., Kuzik, N., Larouche, R., Lee, E.-Y., Levi, S., Löf, M., Loney, T., López Gil, J.F., Mäestu, E., Manyanga, T., Martins, C., Mendoza-Muñoz, M., Morrison, S.A., Munambah, N., Mwase-Vuma, T.W., Naidoo, R., Ocansey, R., Okely, A.D., Oluwayomi, A. Paudel, S., Poh, B.K., Ribeiro, E.H., Silva, D.A.S., Shahril, M.R., Smith, M., Staiano, A.E., Standage, M., Subedi, N., Tanaka, C., Tang, H.K., Thivel, D., Tremblay, M.S., Uzicanin, E., Vlachopoulos, D., Webster, E.K., Widyastari, D.A., Zembura, P., & Aubert, S.  (2024). Improving national and international surveillance of movement behaviours in childhood and adolescence: an international modified Delphi Study. Sports Medicine, 55, 203-219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02104-2  
15. Mwase-Vuma, T.W., Janssen, X., Florindo, A.A., Staiano, A.E., Okely, A.D., Pham, B.N., Draper, C.E., Tanaka, C., Koh, D., Webster, E.K., Hongyan, G., Tang, H.K., Chong, K.H., Löf, M., Tremblay, M.S., Hossain, M.S., Munambah, N., Cross, P., Chathurangana, P.W.P., & Reilly, J.J. (2024). Estimating the global total physical activity guideline using step-counting among 3-4-year-olds: Evidence from SUNRISE pilot studies from 17 countries. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 21(8), 794-801. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0711 
16. Makaruk, H., Webster, E.K., Porter, J., Makaruk, B., Bodasińska, A., Zieliński, J., Tomaszewski, P., Nogal, M., Szyszka, P., Starzak, M., Śliwa, M., Banaś, M., Biegajło, M., Chaliburda, A., Gierczuk, D., Suchecki, B., Molik, B., & Sadowski, J. (2024). The fundamental motor skill proficiency among Polish primary school-aged children: A nationally representative surveillance study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 27(4), 243-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2023.12.007 
17. Martins, C.L., Romo-Perez, V., Webster, E.K., Duncan, M., Lemos, L.F., Staiano, A.E., Okely, A.D., Magistro, D., Carlevaro, F., Bardid, F., Magno, F., Nobre, G., Estevan, I., Mota, J., Ning, K., Robinson, L.E., Lenoir, M., Quan, M., Valentini, N.C., Cross, P., Jones, R., Henrique, R., Chen, S-T., Diao, Y., Bandeira, P., & Barnett, L.M. (2024). Motor competence and body mass index in the preschool years: a pooled analysis of over 5545 children from eight countries. Sports Medicine, 54, 505-516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01929-7 

Presentations 

National/International 

1.  Webster, E.K., Becker, K.A., Coe, D.P., Brandon, D. and D. Ellison. “Balancing” the SUNRISE Study: Preliminary data from Team USA.  Portuguese Seminar on 24h Movement Behaviors: The SUNRISE-Portugal Project in Porto, Portugal, 2024.  
2. Moss, S., True, L., Spring, K.E., Staiano, A.E., & Webster, E.K. (2025, November). Perception vs. reality: Comparison of parent-reported and objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time in young children. Presented at the American Public Health Association Conference in Washington, D.C. 
3. Brandon, D.A.*, Lovingood, A.*, Ellison, D.*, Coe, D.P., & Webster, E.K. (2025, June). Comparing TGMD-3 and MABC-3 performance in preschool-age children’s motor skills. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 47(Suppl 1), S15. [North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity in Lake Tahoe, CA.]
4. Lovingood, A.*, Brandon, D.A.*, Ellison, D.*, Becker, K.A,. & Webster, E.K. (2025, June). Examining the Role of Static Balance in Predicting Fundamental Motor Skill Performance in Preschool-Aged Children. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 47(Suppl 1), S16. [North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity in Lake Tahoe, CA.] 
5. Ellison, D.*, Becker, K., Brandon, D.*, Lovingood, A.*, & Webster, E.K. (2025, June). How do you balance? Concurrent validity of a balance strategy direct observation protocol for static balance performance. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 47(Suppl 1), S13. [North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity in Lake Tahoe, CA.] 
6. Brandon, D.A.*, Lovingood, A.*, Ellison, D.*, Carlson, T.J., & Webster, E.K. (2025, June). Examining gender and BMI differences in MABC-3 performance among 18-25 year olds. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 47(Suppl 1), S15. [North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity in Lake Tahoe, CA.] 
7. McKenzie, M.T., Brandon, D.*, Lovingood, A.*, Webster, E.K., & Coe, D.P. (2025, June). Exploring the Associations among Physical Activity, Motor Proficiency, and Cognition in Early Childhood. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 47(Suppl 1), S19. [North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity in Lake Tahoe, CA.] 
8. Bautista, J.G., Brandon, D.*, Webster, E.K., & Strohacker, K. (2025, June). Exploring the factor structure of physical activity-related health competence questionnaire that have undergone translation and cultural adaptation for English-speakers. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 47(Suppl 1), S70. [North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity in Lake Tahoe, CA.] 
9. Zhang, Z., Abdeta, C., Chelly, M. S., del Pozo Cruz, J., Germana, L., Ghofranipour, F., Ha, A. S., Hamdouchi, A. E., Tang, H., Hossain, M.S., Jambaldorij., B., Koh., D. C. L., Kontsevaya, A., Löf, M., Lubree, H., Jáuregui., A., Mwase-Vuma., T., Oluchiri., A., Oluwayomi, A., Reilly, J. J., Roos, E., Staiano, A. E., Suherman, A., Tanaka, C., Teo, W., Turab, A., Užičanin, E., Veldman, S. L. C., Webster, E. K., Wickramasinghe, P., Aunampai, A. & Okely, A. (2025, June). Measurement properties of the SUNRISE Study Parent Questionnaire for assessing sleep and sleep-related family practices. [Oral presentation at the annual meeting of International Society Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA). Auckland. 11-14 June 2025.]
10. Spring, K.E., Webster, E.K., & Staiano, A.E. (2025, April). Neighborhood walkability and accessibility: Associations with preschool children’s physical activity, motor skills, and body mass index. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 59(Suppl 1), S336. [Presented at the Society for Behavioral Medicine in San Francisco, CA.] 
11. Makaruk, H., Porter, J.M., Webster, E.K., Makaruk, B., & Sawdowski, J. (2025, March). Assessing fundamental motor skills with AI: Validity and reliability of the FUS test for jumping rope. Presented at the International Motor Skills Acquisition Conference at Kisakallio, Lohja, Finland 
12. Webster, E.K., Brandon, D., Lovingood, A.D., Becker, K.A., & Coe, D.P. Do household routines and activities influence preschool-aged children’s physical activity engagement? International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress in Paris, France, 2024. 
13. Ulrich, D.A., & Webster, E.K. (2024, September). Using & reporting the standard error of measurement in APA research. Presented at the North American Federation for Adapted Physical Activity in Ithaca, New York. 
14. Brandon, D., Coe, D.P., and Webster, E.K. Exploring the Impact of Physical Activity Intensity on Inhibition Control in Preschoolers.  North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine Biennial Meeting in Louisville, KY, 2024.
15. Brandon, D.A.,* Becker, K.A., Staiano, A.E., & Webster, E.K. (2024, June). How is socioeconomic status associated with fundamental motor skills in preschool-age children over time. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 12(Suppl 1), S75. [DCD15-IMDRC6; 6th Assembly of the International Motor Development Research Consortium in Ghent, Belgium]. 
16. Webster, E.K., Brandon, D.A.*, Becker, K.A., & Staiano, A.E. (2024, June). How are individual contextual factors associated with fundamental motor skills in preschool-age children over time? Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 12(Suppl 1), S56. [DCD15-IMDRC6; 6th Assembly of the International Motor Development Research Consortium in Ghent, Belgium]. 
17. Palmer, K.K., Drame, I., Webster, E.K., & Robinson, L.E. (June, 2024). How does screen access and screen time rules relate to objectively-measured child physical activity and parent-reported screen time. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 12(Suppl 1), S23. [DCD15-IMDRC6; 6th Assembly of the International Motor Development Research Consortium in Ghent, Belgium].
18. Makaruk, H., Porter, J., Webster, E.K., Makaruk, B., Niźnikowski, T., & Sadowski, J. (June, 2024). Concurrent validity and reliability of the FUS test app for the measurement of fundamental motor skills. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 46(Suppl), S36. [North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity in New Orleans, Louisiana.] 
19. Spring, K.E., Webster, E.K., Beyl, R.A., & Staiano, A.E. (2024, March). Predictors of preschool children’s adherence to physical activity guidelines. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 58(Suppl 1), S672. [Poster presentation at the 45th Annual Society of Behavioral Medicine in Philadelphia, PA]. 

The Move + Play Lab, co-directed by Dr. Dawn Coe and Dr. Kip Webster, provides exceptional training opportunities for doctoral students passionate about advancing pediatric health and development through movement and play. Under the mentorship of Dr. Coe—an expert in pediatric exercise physiology and the cognitive and academic effects of physical activity— and Dr. Webster—whose research focuses on motor development, physical activity interventions, and health-related policy—students engage in interdisciplinary, high-impact research. The lab examines motor skills, physical activity behaviors, fitness, and environmental factors across school, home, and outdoor settings, with an emphasis on evidence-based interventions and policy change. Graduate students in the Move + Play Lab benefit from close faculty mentorship, collaborative projects, and hands-on experience in assessment, intervention design, and program evaluation, preparing them to become leaders in research and practice that promote healthier, more active lifestyles and improved learning outcomes for children and youth. 

Undergraduate Students 

Undergraduate students interested in completing research within the fields of motor development and/or pediatric exercise physiology should contact Dr. Kip Webster and/or Dr. Dawn Coe for information regarding research opportunities

This section highlights the scholarly and scientific work groups that Drs. Webster and Coe have worked on. 

• ACSM Presidential Task Force – Youth Fitness (Coe) 

• International Motor Development Research Consortium – Expert Statement on Preschool Motor Skills (Webster) 

American College of Sports Medicine 

Southeast Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine

North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine 

North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity 

International Motor Development Research Consortium