Comparative Analysis of Motor and Functional Fitness of 6th Grade Boys of an Underfilled School Under Quarantine Conditions

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the dynamics of motor and functional fitness of 6th grade boys of an underfilled school during the school year under quarantine conditions. Materials and methods. The study involved 6th grade boys (n = 6), who were 11 years old at the beginning of the experiment. The study used methods of mathematical statistics for processing research results, analysis of scientific and methodological literature, testing to assess schoolchildren’s motor and functional fitness. Study results. The indices of the 6th grade students’ motor fitness deteriorated significantly after quarantine. A comparative analysis of the arithmetic mean of the indices showed that in shuttle run 4x9 m (agility) the results deteriorated by 3%, push-ups (strength) by 24.1%, pull-ups (strength) by 41.6%, bent arm hang (strength) by 18.8%, standing long jump (speed and strength qualities) by 1.29%, trunk bend in lying support (flexibility) by 41.5%.  As of September 2020, the indices of functional fitness of the 6th grade students also decreased. A comparative analysis of the arithmetic mean of the indices showed that in Shtange test the results deteriorated by 12.6%, and in Genchi test by 14.3%. The introduced quarantine measures and distance learning have negatively affected the schoolchildren’s motor and functional fitness. Conclusions. During the school year, the boys show a positive dynamics of results, and after quarantine measures there is negative dynamics, due to the lack of physical education classes. The testing results indicate the possibility of improving physical education classes, increasing motor activity, enhancing the level of motor fitness, based on the sensitive period of children’s development and individual approach to each school student.