Attitude of Inter University Youth Festival Participants Towards Physical Education and Sports

Human bodies are made for motion. Whether for long purposeful strides across a back court, or for the free expressive creation of a dance, there is something very magnetic and totally captivating about physical activities. It challenges and it satisfies, it excites and it calms, it wins our allegiance with a compelling urge that may be an answer to some fundamental human needs. We are enliven and rejuvenated by the pure joy of movement. Physical activity is essential for life .If the organism is not physically active; the functions of the body will gradually but surely diminish from desirable levels until there is difficulty in moving even under minimal conditions. Without physical activity, their regression in bodily function will continue until death results. The favorable attitude of participants of youth festival toward physical education is a primary need specially when the physical education teacher or instructor is a new entrant and lacks experience on competence. The guidance, initiative and the drive of the head of the college/university are vital in shaping the physical fitness of the school population. Administrators play a vital role in planning implementing and developing the physical education program in their respective college/university. By the virtue of the office they hold, they are the executive and judicial head of all sports and physical education committees in their respective institution. Hence, to enable us to learn the awareness of the importance of being physically fit in college/university, how far the physical education programs are being implemented and how far physical education is accepted in college/university, the study of attitudes of participants of youth festival and its aim and objectives are important.

Six hundred participants (300 male and 300 female) were randomly selected from the West Zone Inter University Youth Festival which was held from 19th to 23rd December 2007 at LNIPE Gwalior. The subjects are ranged from 18-25 years. Under the supervision and guidance of experts of the related field, 30 statements were finalized out of 50 statements after conducting a pilot study. The questionnaire was arranged in a logical order and each statement was recorded clearly to enable the subjects to understand and answer those statements without much difficulty. Great care was taken to frame each statement in such a manner that it was precise and without any ambiguity. Provision was made on the right side of each statement to note the attitude of the respondents by ticking ( ) one of the responses viz. Yes\ No respectively. The various responses received in terms of youth festival participant’s attitude towards

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The table-I indicate that the attitude of inter university Youth Festival participants towards physical education and Sports is very positive. Majority of the students accept that regular participation in physical education & sports are essential for physical growth & development, physical fitness, mental alertness, emotional maturity and social development. It may be due to the fact that physical education activities develop leadership qualities, co-operation and adjustment, competitiveness and maturity level among individuals along with this it has its recreational values. The favorable attitude may be also due to the availability of the physical education & Sports facilities in the modern era. Today there are varieties of physical education activities along with variations for persons of every age group. The favorable attitude towards physical education & Sports may be also due to the fact academic schedules are heavy and this leads to monotony students need mental relaxation and for this they are attracted towards the physical education & sports activities which helps to refresh their minds and gives them the motivation that they can start their new day today. However, very few negative responses received may be due to the lack of knowledge of physical education and health education, perhaps the subjects had not experienced any physical education activities during their school days and college days hence gave negative answers.