In alpine skiing we encounter many factors that affect the competitor to a greater or lesser extent and must be overcome or exploited in various ways. Broadly speaking, the nature of the activity ...plays its role just like the equipment, the spectators, the coach, etc., but the most important role is played by the competitor himself. Optimal synthesis is required for successful participation of top competitors with regard to physical, psychological and social skills and characteristics.
During the transformation process (training) we help the competitor with different methods and means to transform from the initial to the final state, which is basically conscious transformation of numerous skills and characteristics of the competitor with impact on their personality as well.
In this study we wanted to establish the extent to which certain anthropometric and motor skill parameters are related to competitive performance of younger boys aged 12 to 13 years in the Rauch Cup in the season 2014/15. Based on the measurements of seven tests of motor skills (MSKOK10 – Ten jumps with both feet, TESJCAS – Squat jump, MS20NVZP – 20m sprint, TREAOPTO – Optojump – Squat jump, MT400 – 400m run, MROS - Equilibrium stability index, and SKI9 – Figures-of-eight around 9 pins) and one measurement of anthropometric dimension (ABMI - Body Mass Index), we used the Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the correlation between individual variables and the performance of a sample of 34 young competitors in alpine skiing. The correlation of the whole set of variables regarding performance was determined using regression analysis. We have established a statistically significant correlation between the number of achieved points and variables MSKOK10, MS20NVZP, MT400 and SKI9 at the risk level of 1%. In the cases of TREAOPTO, MROSI and TESJCAS the correlation coefficients did not show statistically significant correlation. For the set of motor and anthropometric variables we have established a high and statistically significant linear correlation to the criteria (R=0.76, p=0.003). We have also established that the linear correlation between all motor skill variables and performance is high (R=0.72, p=0.006). The findings of this study show the suitability of the chosen variables in determining the potential success of young alpine skiers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, countries took several restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus. In the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary schools in Slovenia were closed for a ...period long time (from October 19th 2020 until January 18th 2021 when they were partially reopened for 6-9 year olds until February 15th 2021 when they were reopened for all children) and organized sport activities for children and adolescents under the age of 15 was not allowed during this period. The aim of the study was to examine how these restrictions were reflected in the amount of different forms of physical activity (PA) of 6-12-year old children (
= 3,936). Data were collected using an online questionnaire (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form) comparing different forms of PA before (BEFORE) and during (DURING) remote schooling. The results show that there has been a decline in children's PA DURING, specifically, only 4.3% of children had their physical education ≥ 45 min (or 77.7% ≤ 30 min), as is the usual duration in Slovenia. There was also a remarkable decline in extracurricular sports activities (
< 0.001), which BEFORE had been participated by 72.2% of children, while DURING remote schooling, as many as 83.5% of children did not participate these activities. 69.7% of children participated in organized sports in clubs at least once a week, while DURING remote schooling, as many as 88.1% (
< 0.001) did not participate in such form of activities. Furthermore, the time spent exercising in moderate to vigorous PA also decreased (BEFORE 8.2% vs. DURING 24.9%;
< 0.001). We found that during lockdown there has been an alarming decrease in the frequency and duration of organized PA at school and at sports clubs. These findings are a good starting point for designing (developing) an effective strategy for promoting health-enhancing PA of children in the event of a future lockdown or similar situations. The strategy should focus on the appropriate implementation of PA curriculum and motivate young people to participate regularly in extracurricular organized and non-organized activities.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether students differ in terms of their physical fitness according to their academic achievements in mathematics, language (Slovene) and PE. The sample ...comprised 467 participants: 250 males and 217 females. In order to assess physical fitness levels, eight different tests from the Eurofit test battery were conducted. The academic performance of children was defined on the basis of three criteria: final grades in mathematics, final grades in Slovene language and final grades in the subject of sports. An independent t-test and a multiple regression analysis were performed to determine the relationship between various physical fitness tests and academic achievement. The most important finding of our study is that physical fitness is related to academic achievement in preadolescent children. Children with better academic achievements performed better in most physical fitness tests than peers who had poorer academic performance. Key words: childhood; motor abilities; school grades. --- Svrha studije bila je utvrditi razlikuju li se djeca u pogledu tjelesnoga fitnesa u skladu s njihovim akademskim uspjehom iz matematike, jezika (slovenski jezik) i tjelesne i zdravstvene kulture. Uzorak je obuhvaćao 467 sudionika: 250 dječaka i 217 djevojčica. Kako bi se procijenila razina tjelesnoga fitnesa, provedeno je osam različitih testova iz testne baterije Eurofit. Akademski uspjeh djece definiran je na temelju tri kriterija: završne ocjene iz Matematike, završne ocjene iz Slovenskog jezika i završne ocjena iz Tjelesne i zdravstvene kulture. Izvedeni su neovisni t-test i višestruka regresijska analiza kako bi se utvrdio odnos između različitih testova tjelesnoga fitnesa i akademskoga uspjeha. Najvažniji nalaz našega istraživanja jest da je tjelesni fitnes povezan s akademskim uspjehom kod djece u predadolescentnoj dobi. Djeca s boljim akademskim uspjehom pokazala su bolje rezultate na većini testova tjelesnoga fitnesa u usporedbi s vršnjacima koji su imali slabiji akademski uspjeh.Ključne riječi: djetinjstvo; tjelesne sposobnosti; školske ocjene.
The Physical Education Teaching in Terms of the Elementary Teachers' Competencies. The main aim of this study was to find out how elementary teachers evaluate their competence for teaching Physical ...Education (PE) regarding seniority and physical activity involvement. The study was conducted on a non-randomized sample of 220 elementary teachers teaching PE. The results show that the highest assessed competences include the ability to plan, organize, implement and evaluate sports lessons. Teachers rated as lowest those competencies related to integrating and working with children with special needs in PE lessons.
The main aim of this study was to find out how elementary teachers evaluate their competence for teaching Physical Education (PE) regarding seniority and physical activity involvement. The study was ...conducted on a non-randomized sample of 220 elementary teachers teaching PE. The results show that the highest assessed competences include the ability to plan, organize, implement and evaluate sports lessons. Teachers rated as lowest those competencies related to integrating and working with children with special needs in PE lessons. The most physically active teachers and those with the longest seniority rate competencies higher than less active teachers and those with shorter seniority.
The main aim of this paper is to compare the representation of physical education in primary education in the countries of European Union and to explain the effects of sports activities in child's ...development. For at least twenty years experts have pointed to the lack of spontaneous movement in childhood. Therefore, sports activity is suitable for maintaining good health and proper physical fitness. Physical education represents a large proportion of children's sports activities and has positive effects on a child’s holistic development. EU countries allocate physical education of children in primary school different amounts of attention. To physical education about half of European countries devote 10% of the total time of school curriculum, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia to 15%, while Ireland only 4%. These findings suggest that among EU countries, there are very large differences in the number of hours devoted to physical education and that designers of primary education in Europe perceive physical education as less important than other subjects.
The main aim of the research was to find out whether there are any differences in physical fitness between non-overweight, overweight and obese female students. Research was carried out on 178 female ...students from the Faculty of Education Maribor (aged 20.3 years, SD = 1.09). The students were classified as non-overweight, overweight, and obese according to age and sex specific body mass index (BMI) cut-off points. In order to assess their physical fitness, nine different tests that cover explosive leg power, repetitive trunk and upper extremities power, flexibility, balance, eye-hand coordination, agility, and endurance were used. ANOVA was used to assess the differences in physical fitness between nonoverweight, overweight, and obese groups. Statistical significance was set at the α level of 0.05. Results show that 79.9 % of students were in the non-overweight group, 14.0 % in the overweight group, and 6.61 % in the obese group. The differences in all physical fitness tests, except in sit-and-reach test and sit-ups test, between non-overweight, overweight, and obese female students are statistically significant (p < 0.05). We have established that the nonoverweight female students achieved a higher level of physical fitness than their overweight and obese peers. In addition, overweight students achieved a higher level of physical fitness than obese students. These data suggest, that in the early adulthood population the level of physical fitness and weight status are closely related.
The main aim of the research was to determine how children’s physical fitness development is related to age, gender, and certain environmental factors at the onset of puberty. The research was ...carried out on a representative sample of 897 children (47.9 % females and 52.1 % males) aged eleven and fourteen. Twelve tests were used to assess their physical fitness. Based on the duration of the physical activities, the children were divided into four categories: inactive, occasionally active, active and highly active. In the case of paternal education and maternal education, the children were classified into three categories: low, average and high. Considering their school grades in mathematics, the children were divided into three groups: less successful, successful and very successful. In the case of their place of residence, the children were divided into three groups: urban, suburban and rural. A component model of factor analysis was used to identify their basic coordinate system of physical fitness. To solve the problem of the integration of physical fitness into environmental factors, age and gender, a factorial analysis of variance was used. The results show that most of the differences in physical fitness can mainly be explained through age and gender. We can conclude that the significant factors to physical fitness development are growth, development and the maturation rate of individuals, which are predominantly hereditarily determined. Place of residence, physical activity, school grades and parental education have less influence on physical fitness development and serve only as an additional impulse to further stimulate or inhibit the physical development of children.
The main aim of the research was to determine how children’s physical fitness development is related to age, gender, and certain environmental factors at the onset of puberty. The research was ...carried out on a representative sample of 897 children (47.9 % females and 52.1 % males) aged eleven and fourteen. Twelve tests were used to assess their physical fitness. Based on the duration of the physical activities, the children were divided into four categories: inactive, occasionally active, active and highly active. In the case of paternal education and maternal education, the children were classified into three categories: low, average and high. Considering their school grades in mathematics, the children were divided into three groups: less successful, successful and very successful. In the case of their place of residence, the children were divided into three groups: urban, suburban and rural. A component model of factor analysis was used to identify their basic coordinate system of physical fitness. To solve the problem of the integration of physical fitness into environmental factors, age and gender, a factorial analysis of variance was used. The results show that most of the differences in physical fitness can mainly be explained through age and gender. We can conclude that the significant factors to physical fitness development are growth, development and the maturation rate of individuals, which are predominantly hereditarily determined. Place of residence, physical activity, school grades and parental education have less influence on physical fitness development and serve only as an additional impulse to further stimulate or inhibit the physical development of children.
The main aim of this research was to find out whether there are any differences in motor competences between children involved in judo training and their peers that are not involved in any sport. The ...aim of this research was also to determine whether there are any differences in anthropometric measurements. For this purpose, we conducted an educational experiment. The research was based on non–random (convenience) sampling that included 54 boys divided into experimental and control group. In the experimental group there were 27 pupils of the first, the second and the third grade of basic school that train judo in JK Murska Sobota and in the control group there were 27 pupils attending the first, the second and the third grade. Apart from the regular Physical Education classes at school the boys in the control group were not involved in any kind of organised sport activities. Both groups were tested before and after a three-month training period. For statistical analyses the analysis of covariance was used. The findings showed that the experimental group was better in most of the physical fitness tests, while in the anthropometric measurements the differences were not statistically significant. The largest differences were found in the endurance torso power, the explosive leg power, in the aerobic endurance and in the whole body coordination. Slightly smaller differences were shown only in the flexibility and balance. It can be concluded that judo training is important for the development of motor competences in children.