Česká kinantropologie 2014, vol. 18, no. 3, p. 17 – 25
Changes in the level of general physical
performance in 7–8 years old children in
the “Kids´ Athletics” project*
Ivan Čillík & Simona Švachová
epartment of Physical Education and Sport
D
Faculty of Arts, Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
Abstract
In this report we present the results of changes of general physical performance
in 7–8 years old children attending the primary school at Spojova Street in Banská
Bystrica. The experimental group consisted of 15 probands, 10 girls and 5 boys, who
participated in Kids´ Athletics project in the academic year 2011/2012. The experimental stimulus (conditioning program) was applied two times a week in duration of 60 min
during 8 mezocycles from 7th October 2011 to 29th May 2012. The Eurofit test battery
was used to assess general physical performance (Moravec, Kampmiller, Sedláček
et al., 2002). The initial testing was performed on 5th October 2011 and the final testing
on 30th May 2012. We conclude that in the final testing we recorded higher average values
for all tests except the flexed arm hang test. In the plate tapping test, sit-and-reach test,
standing long jump, endurance shuttle-run and 10 x 5 m shuttle run test we recorded
statistically significant changes at significance level p < 0.001. On this basis, we positively evaluate children’s participation in the “Kid’s Athletics” project during the implementation of the program divided into 8 mezocycles.
Key words: younger school age, Kids` Athletics, general physical performance,
Eurofit.
Introduction
Physical activity and movement can be characterized as a means of obtaining many
experiences throughout past experience. It is a way of forming and creating a mental
wealth of each individual. Both movement and physical activity belong to the basic
expression of life (Neuman, 2001). Through the movement we enlarge the horizon
of experience of exploring the world, cognitive processes such as emotions, thinking
are developed and we strengthen all the organs of the body as well.
Lack of physical activity is a serious and current issue of children in school age.
As have been mentioned by Dylevský, Korbelář & Kučera (1997), an optimum
amount of physical activity is essential not only for physical and mental health of
a child, but also for a prevention of serious diseases of civilization. According to Čillík
(2004), physical activity is one of the basic stimulator of the development of children,
in case, it is not excessive.
ˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉˉ
* This contribution was written with the support of grant project VEGA 1/1158/12.
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The project “IAAF Kids` Athletics” started at the end of year 1997 and it is guaranteed by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). It tries to address
youth coaches around the world. The main purpose of this project is to bring children
back to athletics. The project is a general pedagogical educational program for children
beginning with athletics as a sport discipline and preparing for the period of gradually
directed athletic training. Thanks to this project, kids have a possibility to try different
disciplines in a playful way and discover the secret and magic of athletics (Kaplan
& Valková, 2009). The project “Kids` Athletics” is implemented all over the world.
Internships and seminars for coaches, teachers and other athletic fans are organized with
the purpose to include this project into Physical Education and sport training for kids in
sport clubs. There is a growing number of presentations and samples of this project all
over the world as well. One of the purposes is to fill the gap among young children,
beginners and experienced athletes. Many countries have an interest to include this
project as an official program for youth. In most of the countries e.g. the Czech
Republic, the project “Kids`Athletics” has achieved success. This is also confirmed
by researches of several authors in which they are dealing with the mentioned project
or with the preparation of small children e.g. Vindušková (2003), Jeřábek (2008),
Michálek (2008), Kaplan, Válková (2009), Vindušková, Křivohlavá (2010). In other
countries, the authors such as Havage – Havage (1993), Corbin – Pangrazzi (1998),
Belyi – Way (2002), Balyi – Hamilton (2004), Barber (2005), Gozzoli (2006),
Gozzoli – Simohamed – El-Hebil (2006), Swope (2006), Iskra et al. (2008) have dealt
with the issue of preparation at this age, in the Slovak Republic Švachová (2011),
Švachová (2012). Currently, the same project is suspended in Slovakia and the clubs
perform the activity independently without any central leadership. In this research
we have used the results from one of the prep organized in Banská Bystrica.
Purpose
The main purpose of this research was to find out the efficiency of the systematic
general training with perspective focus on athletics within the project “Kid’s Athletics”
in children of younger school age based on changes of the general physical performance
during 8 mezocycles.
Methods
In this research, pupils attending the second grade at the Primary school at Spojova
Street in Banská Bystrica took a part. They showed an interest to attend athletics classes
within the Children’s sport club activities. The experimental group consisted of 15 probands, 10 girls and 5 boys at the age of 7–8 years. Monitoring during this research took
8 eight months (mezocycles) from 7th October 2011 to 29th May 2012. Period of this
experiment was filled with the athletic classes, leisure-time activity which was held two
times a week in the duration of 60 min. The initial tests were performed before the beginning of application of experimental stimulus on 5th October 2011 and the final tests
before the end of selected period Δt, specifically on 30th May 2012. The experimental
group consisted of pupils attending the second grade, classes 2.A and 2.B. These classes
had Physical Education together and thus we have avoided the impact of different content,
methods and means used during P.E. in other classes. The content of training units was to
develop general physical performance of children using different games and exercises
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for the development of conditional and coordination skills. We tried to develop speed
abilities as well as strength, endurance, flexibility and coordination skills using different
exercises, games and competitions which often represented several of these abilities.
During the research we used kids athletic set designed by the company Jipast a.s. containing certified tools and requisites for the project “Kids`Athletics”, for a given age category
in order to attract small children and get them for sport and movement. We tried a wide
range of exercises, changed them often as well as we gradually increased its difficulty.
The period, in which we realized the conditional program and applied experimental
factor, was divided and evaluated in 8 mezocycles. There were organized 53 training units
and the subjects took a part on average 45 training units (84.9%). When selecting general
and special indicators, we have drawn from the document “Athletic training curriculum
for primary schools and eight-year gymnasium focused on sport” (Čillík, 2002). During
evaluation of training load we have selected indicators recommended for age categories
from 10 to 14 years (table 1). The volume of the load is specified in training indicators
in separated mezocycles and totally for the entire period. We also state the proportion
of general and special training preparation. We include into indicators of special training
preparation apliances focused on drill of running technique, technique of jumps, technique
of throws and technique of shot (indicators 7, 8, 9).
Table 1
Totals of the volume of load in general and special training indicators of the experimental group
Month / Indicators
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
General / Special
content (min)
%
October
45
53
11
16
68
67
5
16
7
260 / 28
90.3 / 9.7
November
42
40
13
14
103
79
18
22
22
291 / 62
82.4 / 17.6
December
30
24
15
7
89
65
44
14
7
230 / 65
78 / 22
January
47
60
16
17
50
78
49
15
18
268 / 82
76.6 / 23.4
February
69
52
27
19
45
62
55
14
14
274 / 83
76.8 / 23.2
March
57
54
25
20
41
74
50
24
19
271 / 93
74.5 / 25.5
April
67
40
27
9
24
63
43
16
18
230 / 77
74.9 / 25.1
May
65
60
16
23
43
66
53
21
19
273 / 93
74.6 / 25.4
Total
422 383 150 125 463 554 317 142 124
2097 / 583
78.2 / 21.8
1 – endurance exercises
2 – speed exercises
3 – exercises for coordination
4 – strengthening exercises
5 – games focused on the development
of conditional and coordination skills
6 – gymnastics
7 – running technique
8 – jumping technique
9 – technique of throws and shots
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The proportion of general and special training have changed during the monitored
period (table 1). While in the first mezocycle we have registered percentage proportion
of general and special preparation 90.3% : 9.7%, gradually this proportion changed
for the benefit of special preparation when in the last mezocycle it reached the proportion
of 25.4%. Well, this proportion is consistent with many authors e.g. Čillík (2004) states
the proportion of general and special preparation of 80% : 20% at the beginning of the
stage of sport prep.
To determine the level of general physical performance and effect of athletics classes
within the project Kids`Athletics, we used following tests according to the methodology
of Eurofit (Moravec, Kampmiller, Sedláček et al., 2002):
a) Flamingo Balance test
b) Plate Tapping test
c) Sit-and-Reach test
d) Standing Long Jump
e) Hand Dynamometer
f) Sit-Ups in 30seconds
g) Flexed Arm Hang
h) 10 x 5 m Shuttle Run
i) Endurance Shuttle Run
Tests were performed according to the described methodology; only in the test
of hand dynamometer we have used latest type of dynamometer HD – BTA for measuring static strength of dominant hand. This dynamometer evaluates the results
using the computer and its accuracy is ± 0.06 N.
We have used paired t-test to determine statistical significance of the level of development general physical performance and motor skills. Using this paired t-test we have
found statistic significance between the initial and final testing in the experimental
group. Furthermore, we have also used basic statistical characteristics of central tendency
and dispersion such as average, standard deviation, minimum measured values and
maximum measured values. When interpreting the results, we have used methods
of logical analysis and synthesis.
Results
Table 2 shows the initial and final level of general physical performance of the experimental group attending athletics classes within the project Kids`Athletics at the
Primary school at Spojova Street in Banská Bystrica. Table 3 shows statistic evaluation
of changes in tests of general physical level in the experimental group between the
initial and final testing.
In the flamingo balance test our subjects of the experimental group achieved the initial
average performance 18.27 n, in the final testing the performance was 10.66 n which
means the improvement by about 7.6 n (41.63%). In both, initial and final testing our two
subjects needed only one attempt to perform this test. But even so we think, this test is not
suitable for children at this age and we incline rather to using a modified test of balance
according to Perečinská (2006). When statistical processing, the results of t-test show that
values in the test on average decreased in the initial testing, whereas in this case it is statistically significant improvement at the level of significance p < 0.05.
In the plate tapping test we have registered the improvement of average performance by about 4.18 s (18.68%) in the final testing, whereas we found out the value
of performance 22.38 s in the input and 18.2 s in the output. The best achieved time
during the initial testing was 17.3 s, the weakest 30.6 s, in the final testing 13.7 s and
the weakest 21.9 s. Simultaneously p-values of t-tests show statistically significant
decrease at the significance level p < 0.001.
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Table 2
General physical performance input – output in the experimental group
FBT
(number)
PTT (s)
SRT
(cm)
SLJ (cm)
HD
(kg)
SUT
(number)
FAH
(s)
X
18.27
22.38
18.2
133.2
9.79
17.4
24.61
24.5
23.6
S
11.15
3.47
3.84
15.19
1.93
3.9
16.67
1.87
12.7
Min
1
17.3
11
109
5.837
9
3.1
21.4
12
Max
34
30.6
25
156
12.32
24
67.2
27.6
51
Output
X
10.66
18.2
22.73
141.8
10.73
20
20.4
22.08
37
S
9.43
2.31
6.2
18.63
2.5
3.59
13.18
1.69
18
Min
1
13.7
14
101
5.194
16
5.6
18.9
18
Max
34
21.9
34
165
14.39
28
53.9
24.6
71
Input
10 x 5 m
ESR
(s)
(number)
Legend: FBT – flamingo balance test PTT – plate tapping test
SRT – sit-and-reach test
SLJ – standing long jump
HD – hand dynamometer
SUT – sit-ups Test
FAH – flexed arm hang
10 x 5 m – 10 x 5 m shuttle run
ESR – endurance shuttle runX – average
S – standard deviation
Min – minimum
Max – maximum
Table 3
Statistic evaluation of changes in tests of general physical level in the experimental group
Paired
T-test
FBT
PTT
SRT
SLJ
HD
SUT
FAH
10 x 5 m
ESR
0.0118
*
0
***
0.0004
*** 0.0002
***
0.0182
*
0.0034
**
0.1658
si
0
***
0
***
*** statistic significance in the level p < 0.001;
** statistic significance in the level p < 0.01;
* statistic significance in the level p < 0.05; si – statistically insignificant
In the sit-and-reach test the subjects achieved average initial performance 18.2 cm,
average final performance 22.73 cm. The improvement in this test was about 4.53 cm
(19.93%). When comparing measured values in the sit-and-reach test, we have found
out statistically significant improvement in joint flexibility of torso at the significance
level p < 0.001 in the initial and final testing of our subjects.
Also in the standing long jump achieved performances in the final testing show
increasing level of explosive power of lower extremities. Subjects achieved average
initial performance 132.2 cm; average final performance had higher value about 9.6 cm
and in the final testing even 165 cm. When comparing the initial and final values,
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we have found out statistically significant improvement in the level of explosive power
of lower extremities at the significance level p < 0.001.
In the test hand dynamometer together with the test for balance our subjects
achieved changes of the level at the level of statistic significance p < 0.05. However,
based on the achieved average performance in the initial testing 9.79 kg and in the
final testing 10.73 kg, we note an increasing level of static strength of dominant
hand even though the improvement was only about 0.94 kg (8.77%).
In the sit-ups test our subjects achieved the following values of average performances.
In the initial testing we have recorded the performance 17.4 n in 30 s, in the final testing
the value was 20 n, it means the improvement by about 2.6 n (13%). The best achieved
performances in the input were 24 n, in the output 28 n. The table of p-value (table 3)
confirms a significant increase of final values in this test. At the level of significance
p < 0.01 we reject the null hypothesis of t-test for the benefit of alternative,
in case that the median of the final results is higher than initial.
The only test in which our subjects did not achieve the improvement was the flexed
arm hang test. On the contrary, we have recorded decreasing of performance. Whereas
in the initial testing achieved average performance was 24.61 s, in the final testing
it was only 20.4 s, it means decreasing in average performance about 4.1 s (17.11%).
Also, we have registered the difference in maximum performance. While in the initial
testing the best performance was 67.2 s, in the final testing we have observed a decrease
on the value 53.9 s. Based on p-value of t-test in the experimental group there are not
statistic significant changes of the median of the input and output. We can say that the
input and output are on average the same.
In 10 x 5 m shuttle run test we have recorded the improvement of average performance about 2.42 s (9.88%), as we recorded the value 24.5 s in the initial testing and in
the final testing 22.08 s. The results show an increasing level of this ability. P-value of
t-test shows statistically significant decrease at the significance level p < 0.001 as well.
Endurance shuttle run test is a test in which our subjects again showed increasing
level of endurance abilities. In the initial testing our subjects achieved average performance 23.6 n, in the final testing it was 37 n, from which we can see the improvement by
about 13.4 n (36.22%). Also t-test within the group shows statistic significant increase
at the level of significance p < 0.001 and therefore, the results in this test are on average
higher in the final measuring.
Discussion
Based on application of conditional program divided into 8 mezocycles we can state
that the biggest changes, at the level of statistic significance p < 0.001, have been reached in the following five tests: the plate tapping test, the sit-and-reach test, the standing
long jump, 10 x 5 m shuttle run and the endurance shuttle run. We developed speed
abilities during 8 mezocycles in the total volume 383 min. According to this, we believe
that this amount of completed minutes positively reflected in the tests for speed, in the
plate tapping test as well as in 10 x 5 m shuttle run. Also exercises focused on the
correct running technique completed in the total volume 317 min could contribute to it.
Training indicator gymnastics, including the time spent by tightening and stretching
exercises, was developed in the biggest volume 554 min. Also because of this our
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subjects have improved in joint flexibility at the statistical level. With the technique
of jumps we were dealing 142 min during the monitored period and also games focused
on the reflective explosiveness of lower extremities could contribute to the change in
increases of the level of this ability at the significance level. Endurance exercises were
developed in the total volume 422 min which is the second largest completed volume.
According to this, we consider the improvement of this ability, at the level of statistic
significance p < 0.001, to be an adequate and expected.
At the level of statistic significance p < 0.01 we have achieved the changes in increases
of the level only in the sit-ups test. We were dealing with the development of strength
abilities during the monitored period in the total volume only 125 min which was almost
the lowest volume from all of the indicators. Mainly this completed volume of strength
exercises we consider to be responsible for explaining changes in increases of the level
of this ability. In the flamingo balance test and hand dynamometer we have achieved the
changes in increases of the level of statistic significance p < 0.05. We were dealing with
coordination exercises 150 min during 8 mezocycles and this is one of the lowest completed volumes. As you can see, we have included several types of coordination exercises, not only the exercises focused on static balance. As we have already stated in the
section dealing with the results, we incline more to using a modified test of balance
according to Perečinská (2006) which we consider to be more useful in the mentioned
age category. Next, we were dealing with the development of strength abilities only
125 min and this could cause the changes in increases of the level in the test of hand dynamometer at the given significance level. Moreover, we preferred to develop rather other
types of strength abilities than static strength of dominant hand. The only test in which
we did not record any statistically significant changes was the flexed arm hang test. We
are on opinion that the reason of decrease of hang test performance could be increase
of body weight (avr. 2.35 kg) during period of our research, even though that the BMI
has barely changed.
Conclusion
The results of this research show changes in increases of the level of general physical
performance of children attending the second grade of the primary school in Banská
Bystrica. All of them showed an interest to attend athletic classes within the project
“Kids`Athletics” during Children’s sport club activities at the beginning of the academic
year 2011/2012.
In the experimental group, we have recorded increases in average performances in all
tests except the flexed arm hang test (decrease by about 4.21 s – 17.11%). On the contrary,
the biggest increases in average performances have been recorded in the flamingo balance
test (improvement by about 7.6 attempts – 41.63%), in the sit-and-reach test (improvement by about 4.53 cm – 19.93%) and in the endurance shuttle run test (improvement
by about 13.4 sections – 36.22%).
Based on the evaluation of obtained results, using mathematical and statistical
methods, we can state that there have been recorded statistically significant changes
in the level of significance p < 0.001 in the final testing in the plate tapping test, sitand-reach test, standing long jump, endurance shuttle run and 10 x 5 m shuttle run.
Even on the basis of application of conditional program (experimental factor)
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in duration 8 mezocycles. In the sit-ups test these changes occurred in increases of the
level in the level of statistic level p < 0.01 and in the flamingo balance test and in hand
dynamometer at the statistically significance level p < 0.05. Only in the flexed arm hang
test we have recorded statistically insignificant changes (decrease) in increases of the
level of static, endurance strength of upper extremities.
In preparation of children we followed the recommended proportion of general and
special preparation for this age period approximately at the level of 80% : 20%.
Application of trainings, two times a week in the duration of 60 min within the project
Kids`Athletics, proved to be sufficiently effective on changes in the level of general
physical performance at the age of 7–8 years.
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Prof. PaedDr. Ivan Čillík, CSc.
Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Arts,
Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica,
Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
e-mail: [email protected]
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