Physical Fitness Norms for Grade 1 – 6 Students of Ramkhamhaeng University Demonstration Elementary School
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Abstract
Objectives: To study health–related physical fitness and to construct the physical fitness norms for grade 1 – 6 students of Ramkhamhaeng University Demonstration Elementary School.
Methods: This research was a cross–sectional descriptive study which collected the physical fitness testing data of 566 male and female students from grades 1 – 6 at Ramkhamhaeng University Demonstration Elementary School during second semester in the 2016 academic year (November 2016 to March 2017). The instruments were physical fitness testing and standard criteria for physical fitness for Thai children aged between 7 – 18 years old developed by the Department of Physical Education in 2013. The physical fitness tests consist of seven categories, which were skinfold thickness, sit and reach, standing broad jump, sit–ups, push–ups, zig–zag run and distance run. The physical fitness norms using the standard fitness criteria from the Department of Physical Education in 2013 were categorized into five levels as excellent, good, medium, low and very low. These data were calibrated as T-scores and then used to construct the physical fitness norms for grade 1 – 6 students of Ramkhamhaeng University Demonstration Elementary School. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, i.e. mean (μ), standard deviation (σ) and T-score.
Results: Data from 566 male and female students of grades 1 – 6 in Ramkhamhaeng University Demonstration Elementary School revealed that female students had greater skin fold thickness than male students. The other six categories of physical fitness of male and female students in all grades were found to be at a high level. The physical fitness of male students was mostly higher than that of females for almost all categories except sit and reach. Finally, the researchers developed physical fitness norms for grade 1 – 6 male and female students of Ramkhamhaeng University Demonstration Elementary School, which can be used as references in the future.
Conclusion: Six categories of physical fitness of male and female students in all grades were found to be at a high level. Physical fitness norms for grade 1 – 6 students from this study are considered to be useful for physical education teachers who can test the physical fitness of elementary students appropriately separated by sex and grade level.
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References
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