Revitalizing student physical fitness: The vital role of post-pandemic physical activity programs

Abstract

In post-COVID-19 pandemic conditions, students are not engaging in physical activity both at school and at home, leading to a decline in the quality of students’ physical fitness. The objective of this study is to enhance the physical fitness of students by implementing a well-structured, accurate, consistent, and quantifiable physical exercise program, while also monitoring sports activities undertaken by students. This research employs a pseudo-experimental pre-test post-test design. The study sample consisted of 117 students. The selection technique utilized is purposive sampling. The instrument for assessing physical fitness is the Indonesian Physical Freshness Test (TKJI). The data analysis technique employs paired sample t-tests. The findings reveal a significant effect of the sports activity program on students’ physical fitness, with an average physical fitness score increase of 13% for Junior High School 01, 11% for Junior High School 39, 9% for Junior High School 14, and 5% for Junior High School 24. This is corroborated by t-test results using a paired sample t-test, with a t-value of −3.754 and a significance value of p = 0.001 (p < 0.05). Based on these results, it can be concluded that the implementation of sports activity programs in various junior high schools in the city of Padang significantly improves students’ physical fitness in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.