*Dr. Thomas Abraham
Lecturer in Physical Education, Ewing Christian College, Allahabad
ABSTRACT
Physical Fitness is one of the main objectives of Physical Education and for the evaluation of physical fitness; the availability of standard procedure is of utmost importance so as to enable the measurement of achievement level of the student youth. This study is aimed at establishing physical fitness norms for the boys aged 14 and 15 years studying in various schools of Uttarakhand State, India. 1008 subjects were randomly selected from each age group to get a total of 2016subjects. The data was collected by administering AAHPER Youth fitness test items i.e. Pull-Ups for measuring arm and shoulder strength, Bent knee Sit-Ups for abdominal strength and endurance, 4x40 yard dash for speed and agility, Standing Broad Jump for muscular power of legs, 50 Yard dash for speed and 600 Yard Run-Walk for measuring cardio-respiratory endurance. The collected data were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) where the computed value of ‘F’ was found to be greater than tabulated F.05 for all the items of AAHPER Youth Fitness test indicating significant difference in performance between the two age groups. The pair wise comparison of means by using Least Significant Difference Test (LSD) also revealed the paired mean differences between both the age groups to be statistically significant when compared with Critical difference at .05 level of significance. Hence, the need to construct separate scales for different age groups is justified. The scales namely Percentile scale and 5 point rating scale was constructed for both age groups in all test items. The grading scales obtained can be effectively used by the teachers of Physical Education and Coaches in evaluating the fitness levels, molding training programme, selection of talents etc. of their students in both age groups.
INTRODUCTION
The ancient man developed motor skills because it was necessary that he do so in order to survive. He had to run swiftly, throw accurately, dodge and jump with precision in order to secure ample supplies of food and protect himself from his enemies. As men become civilized they banded together for greater protection and they realized that the skilled movement and fitness is very significant for leading a happy and well balanced life. Physical fitness is very important for both sports person and common man. But the degree of physical fitness required varies according to the nature of one’s work, individual’s size, shape of the body, age and sex. For physical fitness, we require an efficient motor mechanism, efficient organic mechanism and an efficient mental functioning. A physically fit individual should possess a sufficient reserve of energy to meet the demands of emergencies in which a person is unexpectedly called upon to perform activities demanding unusual expenditure of strength, energy and adaptive ability under unfavorable environment.
Physical fitness components play a vital role in determining the sports that a person can select. Therefore, identifying these components and measurements gives an edge to the physical educators to select and evaluate the athletes. In Indian condition the environment at different places, different altitude and different racial groups make huge differences; therefore the need to construct physical fitness norms according to the living condition of the people was needed. The AAHPER Youth Fitness Test items were found satisfactorily evaluates all the essential components of physical fitness which is relevant to the present study for establishment of physical fitness norms.
Physical Fitness is one of the main objectives of Physical Education and for the evaluation of physical fitness; the availability of standard procedure is of utmost importance so as to enable measurement of the achievement level of the student youth. A test accompanied by norms has several advantages over tests without norms. Norms enable the teacher to interpret student’s score in relation to a larger group in the same population. Their use enables a comparison of a student with other pupil, and gives uniform meaning to the comparison of a student’s score on one test with his or her score on another. Also, a test with norms provides a reliable and useful basis for interpretation and evaluation of test results.
For any evaluation procedure, where the performance can be obtained in terms of numerical scores, it is necessary that a standard scale should be available to interpret such scores without which the scores will be of no meaning. Miyashita and Sadamata (1987) in a study found differences in physical fitness of Japanese children compared to that of European and North American children. Barnum (1961) administered AAHPER Youth Fitness Test battery to 78 girls in grade VIII at Mitchell Junior High School. Their above average performance was attributed to their Physical education programmes. Stein (1964) conducted a study to ascertain the reliability of individual test items of AAPHER youth fitness test. Tenth and Eleventh grade students of Wake Field High School were selected as subjects. All the reliability co-efficient was significant beyond 0.01 levels. In another study Haley (1985) explained the effect of age on physical performance of elementary school boys in grades one through six. The study showed that motor performance score increased with age and flexibility tended to decrease with age.
Uttarakhand is situated in the northwest portion of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state. It occupies 17.3% of India’s total land area with 51, 125 sq. km. It has a population of about 6.0 million at 94.4 per sq. km. Uttarakhand being a newly established state; there are no Physical fitness norms for the school going children pertaining to the particular state which is very essential considering its geographical & climatic condition. Therefore the present study is an effort towards filling up this void.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objective of the study was to establish physical fitness norms for boys aged 14 and 15 years for Uttarakhand State, India.
METHODOLOGY
For the purpose of the study 2016 male students were selected in the age group of 14 and 15. Seven districts of the Uttrankhand state was selected randomly for the present study, namely Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal, Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh and Chamoli. Public and Government schools were selected for the study with 6 schools from each district thus total 42 schools were visited in the seven districts. Twenty-four subjects were selected from each age group from 6 institutions of the 7 districts. The data was collected by administering AAHPER Youth fitness test items i.e. Pull-Ups for measuring arm and shoulder strength, Bent knee Sit-Ups for abdominal strength and endurance, 4x40 yard dash for speed and agility, Standing Broad Jump for muscular power of legs, 50 Yard dash for speed and 600 Yard Run-Walk for measuring cardio-respiratory endurance.
ANALYSIS OF DATA
To compare the performance of both age groups in various test items, Analysis of Variance was used with the level of significance at 0.05. The age wise norms for this study were computed in terms of percentile scale and 5 point rating scale separately for each test items.
Table-1
DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF AGE GROUP 14 AND 15 ON DIFFERENT TEST ITEMS OF AAPHER YOUTH FITNESS TEST
Test Items Mean S.D. Mini. Score Max. Score
14Yrs. 15Yrs. 14Yrs. 15Yrs. 14Yrs. 15Yrs. 14Yrs. 15Yrs.
Pull-Ups 5.596 6.186 3.276 3.556 0 0 17 19
Bend Knee Sit-Ups 26.293 27.512 6.018 6.057 0 0 45 48
Standing Broad Jump 168.208 176.269 21.662 22.178 110 114 235 255
4X 10Yds. Shuttle Run 11.006 10.847 0.682 0.599 13.6 13.1 9.3 9.2
50Yds. Run 8.010 7.795 0.578 0.549 8.9 9.5 6.4 6.4
600Yds Run 145.117 142.678 10.191 13.138 208 205 113 105
Table-2
ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE OF THE TEST ITEMS OF AGE GROUP 14 AND 15
Test Items Source Of Variance df Sum Of Squares Mean Square Variance F- Ratio
Pull-Ups (Nos.) B 1 175.02 175.02 14.98
W 2014 23540.97 11.69
Bent-Knee Sit-Ups(Nos.) B 1 749.23 749.23 20.76
W 2014 72679.52 36.09
Standing Broad Jumps (Cms.) B 1 32745.85 32745.85 68.14
W 2014 967832.39 480.55
4X10Yards ShuttleRun(Sec.) B 1 12.84 12.84 31.16
W 2014 830.12 0.41
50Yards Dash (sec.) B 1 23.25 23.25 73.13
W 2014 640.30 0.32
600Yard Dash (sec.) B 1 2999.35 2999.35 21.70
W 2014 278368.40 138.22
Significant at .05 level
Tabulated F.05 (1; 2014)=3.84
The analysis of data in Table No. 2 reveals that the computed value of ‘F’ is greater than tabulated F.05 for all the items of AAHPER Youth Fitness test. The ‘F’ ratios obtained were for Pull-ups (14.98), Sit-ups (20.76), Standing Broad Jump (68.14), Shuttle Run (31.16), 50 Yard Dash (73.13) and 600 Yard Run-walk (21.70) whereas the tabulated value of ‘F’ at 0.05 level of significance is 3.84. Thus there was significant difference in the performance of various age groups.
Table-3
POST HOCK COMPARISON OF THE MEANS OF AGE CATEGORY 14 AND 15 IN VARIOUS ITEMS OF AAHPER YOUTH FITNESS TEST
Test Items Mean
14Years Mean
15 Years Mean Differences Critical Difference
Pull-Ups (Nos.) 5.60 6.19 0.59* 0.30
Bend Knee Sit-Ups (Nos.) 26.29 27.51 1.22* 0.52
Standing Broad Jump (Cms.) 168.21 176.27 8.06* 1.91
4X 10Yds. Shuttle Run (Cms.) 11.01 10.85 0.16* 0.06
50Yds. Run (Sec.) 8.01 7.80 0.22* 0.05
600Yds Run (Sec.) 145.12 142.69 2.44* 1.03
• Significant at .05 level
The analysis of data Table No.3 using Least Significant Difference Test (LSD) reveals that when compared with Critical difference at 0.05 level of significance, the paired mean differences among all the age groups in all test items are statistically significant as all the group means are greater than critical difference. Thus, with the increase in age from 14 and 15 years, performance also improved in all test items..
Hence the need to construct separate scales for each age group is justified on the basis of analysis of data using both ANOVA and LSD. Percentile Scale as well as 5 point rating scale was constructed to enable evaluation of performance in the two age categories with respect to different items of AAPHER Youth Fitness Test.
The percentile scale measures the position of an individual in a group. A percentile score inform the student what proportion of the group scored below him. When percentiles are used, score from different test can be compared to show how a student scored in relation to other in each test. Percentile norms are presented in table No.4 from the collected data.
Table-4
PERCENTILE SCALE FOR TEST ITEMS
Points Pull-Ups
(Nos.) Bend Knee Sit-Ups(Nos.) Standing Broad Jump
(Cms.) 4x10yds Shuttle Run
(Seconds) 50yds Run
(Seconds) 600yds Run
(Seconds)
14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs.
100 17 19 45 48 235 255 9.3 9.2 6.4 6.4 113 105
95 12 13 36 38 208 214 10.0 9.9 7.0 6.9 128 122
90 10 11 34 35 198 207 10.2 10.1 7.2 7.0 132 125
85 9 10 32 34 190 200 10.4 10.3 7.4 7.2 135 130
80 8 9 31 32 185 195 10.5 10.4 7.5 7.3 136 132
75 8 8 30 31 180 190 10.6 10.5 7.7 7.4 139 135
70 7 8 29 30 180 186 10.7 10.5 7.8 7.5 141 136
65 7 7 28 29 175 185 10.8 10.6 7.9 7.6 143 139
60 6 7 28 29 170 180 10.8 10.7 7.9 7.7 144 140
55 5 6 27 28 170 179 10.9 10.7 8.0 7.8 144 142
50 5 6 26 27 168 175 10.9 10.8 8.1 7.9 145 143
45 5 5 26 27 165 170 11.0 10.8 8.1 7.9 145 144
40 4 5 25 26 161 170 11.1 10.9 8.2 8.0 146 145
35 4 5 25 26 160 165 11.1 11.0 8.2 8.0 148 146
30 3 4 24 25 158 164 11.2 11.1 8.3 8.1 150 148
25 3 4 23 24 155 160 11.3 11.2 8.4 8.2 151 150
20 3 3 22 23 150 159 11.4 11.3 8.5 8.2 153 152
15 2 2 20 22 148 155 11.7 11.4 8.6 8.3 155 155
10 2 2 19 20 140 150 11.9 11.6 8.7 8.4 157 158
05 1 1 17 18 132 140 12.2 11.9 8.9 8.6 161 164
0 0 0 0 0 110 114 13.6 13.1 8.9 9.5 208 205
To better understand the student’s performance in the various items of AAHPER youth fitness test a 5 point rating scale was prepared based on the normal distribution theory considering the mean and standard deviation as presented in table No.5. The rating scale would be used to assign grades to the students with respect to their scores secured in the test items. In the rating scale the upper class limit is excluded from each class interval.
Table-5
GRADING SCALE FOR TEST ITEMS
Grades Pull-Ups
(Nos.) Bend Knee Sit-Ups(Nos.) Standing Broad Jump
(Cms.) 4x10yds Shuttle Run
(Seconds) 50yds Run
(Seconds) 600yds Run
(Seconds)
14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs. 14
Yrs. 15
Yrs.
Very
Poor <2 <2 <15 <17 <27.4 <28.7 >11.15 >10.95 >8.11 >7.89 >176.26 >194.46
Poor 2
to
5 2
to
5 15
to
23 17
to
24 27.4
to
121.3 28.7
to
127.1 11.05
to
11.15 10.88
to
10.95 8.04
to
8.11 7.83
to
7.89 155.5
to
176.26 159.94
to
194.46
Average 5
to
7 5
to
8 23
to
30 24
to
31 121.3
to
215.1 127.1
to
225.5 10.96
to
11.05 10.81
to
10.88 7.98
to
8.04 7.77
to
7.83 134.73
to
155.5 125.42
to
159.94
Good 7
to
9 8
to
10 30
to
37 31
to
39 215.1
to
309 225.5
to
323.8 10.87
to
10.96 10.74
to
10.81 7.91
to
7.98 7.70
to
7.77 113.97
to
134.73 90.90
to
125.42
Very
Good >9 >10 >37 >39 >309 >323.8 <10.87 <10.74 <7.91 <7.7 <113.97 <90.90
CONCLUSION
The analysis of data reveals that in respect of all the test items of AAHPER Youth Fitness Test, the F-ratios calculated for both the age groups i.e. 14 and 15 years have been found to be statistically significant. The Post-Hoc analysis also reveals that paired mean differences of various age groups are statistically significant at 0.05 level of confidence in respect of all the test items i.e. pull-ups, bent knee sit-ups, standing broad jump, shuttle run, 50 yard dash and 600 yard run-walk. Thus there is enough evidence to show that in case of all the motor components limiting performance in various test items of AAHPER, with increase in age i.e. improved growth; an improvement in performance takes place. Another reason for improved performance may be attributed to the regular participation in sports and physical education programmes, nutritive supplements and differing life style. The prepared Percentile scale and 5 point rating scale is very useful for evaluating the fitness standard of the boys aged 14 and 15 years in the state of Uttarakhand.
The scales can be effectively used by the teachers of Physical Education and Coaches in evaluating the fitness levels of their students in 14 and 15 age categories. The physical education teachers and coaches may utilize the findings of this study in developing and molding training programmes and also selecting potential sportsmen for participation at different levels of competitions. On the basis of the prepared norms, the fitness levels of the students of Uttarakhand may be compared with other regions of the country. The norms may also serve as a motivational force to the students in improving their specific physical fitness levels.
REFERENCES
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