Children are being encouraged to play more as a new study reveals many can not run, jump, kick or throw a ball properly.
A study of 3,000 primary school children is looking at the effects of inactivity.
The DCU study warns when children are older they will not have any fitness levels if they do not learn the basic skills now.
Dr Johann Issartel from the DCU School of health and Human Performance said it is a worrying trend.
"We basically have a new generation of kids that aren't fit anymore and that is a worrying trend," he said.