Strength Abilities: Overview of Development in Middle School Boys

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to identify the peculiarities of strength preparedness of middle-school-aged boys. Materials and methods. The participants in the study were boys of sixth grade (n=36), seventh grade (n=36), eighth grade (n=33). The study used analysis and summary of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical testing and methods of mathematical statistics for processing study results. The IBM SPSS 23 statistical analysis software was used to process the study materials. The following parameters were calculated: arithmetic mean value (X); standard deviation (s). The probability of difference in statistical indicators was estimated using the Student’s t-test. Results. The analysis of the results suggests that the sixth- and seventh-grade boys have statistically significant differences in the set of tests (p <0.05). The seventh-grade boys show the increase in strength indicators of the shoulder girdle muscles, abdominal and back muscles, leg muscles. The sixth- and eighth-grade boys show statistically significant differences in the set of tests (p<0.05). The eighth-grade boys demonstrate the increased indicators of strength and strength endurance of the shoulder girdle muscles, abdominal and back muscles, and leg muscles. There are also statistically significant differences in the test on frequency of arm movements (p<0.001) and in the “Standing long jump” (p<0.001). The seventh- and eighth-grade boys show statistically significant increase in strength indicators of the shoulder girdle muscles, the indicators of strength endurance of the abdominal and back muscles, and the indicators of strength endurance of the leg muscles. There are statistically significant differences in the test on frequency of arm movements (p<0.05) and in the “Shuttle run 4×9” (p<0.001). Conclusions. The middle-school-aged boys show a positive dynamics in the development of motor preparedness. The largest increase is observed in the indicators of strength and strength endurance of the shoulder girdle muscles, abdominal, back, and leg muscles.