<![CDATA[Background: Markerless motion analysis can enrich coaching feedback with objective movement information, but evidence linking it to both physical literacy and functional movement outcomes in novice athletes remains limited. Aims: This study examined whether an eight-week Smart Coaching program supported by markerless motion analysis was associated with greater short-term change than conventional coaching. Methods: A nonrandomized quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control-group design involved 60 novice athletes aged 12-15 years (30 per group). Both groups trained three times weekly for eight weeks. Physical literacy was assessed with an adapted CAPL-2 composite and movement quality with the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). Separate 2 × 2 mixed ANOVAs tested Time × Group effects. Results: Smart Coaching increased CAPL-2 scores from 55.03 ± 6.69 to 73.64 ± 6.51 and FMS scores from 11.37 ± 1.92 to 16.60 ± 1.54. Corresponding gains were 18.61 and 5.23 points, compared with 7.64 and 1.43 points under Conventional Coaching. Time × Group interactions were significant for physical literacy, F(1, 58) = 48.31, p < .001, partial η² = .454, and FMS, F(1, 58) = 77.20, p < .001, partial η² = .571. Between-group differences in change were 10.97 points (95% CI 7.81-14.13) and 3.80 points (95% CI 2.93-4.67), respectively. Conclusion: In this single-site nonrandomized study, Smart Coaching with markerless motion analysis was associated with larger short-term improvements in both outcomes. Randomized and longitudinal replication is warranted.]]>
