Role of Fitness and Performance in Sports with a Reference of Government and Private School Girls

Physical fitness is an inspirable part of sports performance and achievement of a sportsperson. A person is considered fit for a particular task or ability, which he can accomplish with a reasonable degree of efficiency, without undue fatigue and with rapid recovery from the effects of exertion. Barrow and McGee (1984), acknowledged that the physical fitness is a complex phenomenon consisting of various factors such as speed, strength, flexibility, agility, cardiovascular endurance etc. Jonsen and Fisher (1989), explained that physical traits which are considered for sportspersons are strength, power, speed, agility, co-ordination, muscular endurance, reaction-time, cardiovascular respiratory endurance, and flexibility. Mall (1982), stated that the components of physical fitness like strength, speed, endurance (and their complex form) flexibility and the various co-ordinative abilities are essential for a high technique and tactical efficiency. Depending upon the demand of the game, each factor of physical fitness should be optimally developed. To improve the physical fitness and performance in games and sports at national and international levels, our physical education programs should put greater emphasis on all-round development of school children. All those countries which have won medals in sports at international level have made special programs of physical fitness for school children.

The present paper has been prepared with the objective to compare the physical fitness of the government and private school girls.

A sample of 100 girl students of 14 to 16 years age group, from 5 government secondary schools and

Keeping in view the research criteria of availability, suitability, reliability and validity the AAHPER Youth Fitness Test Battery (1976) has been used to study, five components of physical fitness i.e. Abdominal Strength, Agility, Power, Speed and Endurance. In order to analyze the data, t-test is used to know the level of significance of difference between government and private secondary school girls' mean scores of physical fitness components.

Results : Table1 represents the significance of mean difference between Govt. and Private school girls on physical fitness component test of abdominal strength i.e. Sit-ups. It is given in Table-1 that the mean values of Sit-ups of Govt. and Private school girls were recorded as 12.40 with S.D. 2.00 and 9.05 with S.D 1.95 respectively. The mean difference was 3.350 and standard error of difference was 0.116. t-ratio was calculated as 28.81, which was found significant at .01 level of confidence.

Results : Table-2 shows the significance of mean difference between Govt. and Private school girls on physical fitness component test of speed and agility i.e. Shuttle Run. It can be observed from Table-2 that the mean values of Shuttle Run of Govt. and Private school girls were recorded as 11.52 with S.D. 0.79 and 12.66 with S.D. 0.85 respectively. The mean difference was 15.65, that was found significant at .01 level of confidence.

Results : Table 3 depicts the significance of mean difference between Govt. and Private school girls on physical fitness component test of power i.e. Standing Long Jump. The Table 3 shows that the mean value of Standing Long Jump of Govt. school girls was recorded 6.07 with S.D. 0.13 and of Private school girls was recorded 5.45 with S.D. 0.15. Standard error of difference was calculated as 0.007. t-ratio was calculated as 93.39, that was found significant at .01 level of confidence.

Results : Table-4 shows the significance of mean difference between Govt. and Private school girls on physical fitness component test of speed i.e. 50 Yards Dash. The Table-4 depicts that the mean value of 50 Yards Dash of Govt. school girls was calculated 7.45 with S.D. 1.48 and of Private school girls was calculated 8.62 with S.D. 1.70. The mean difference was calculated as 1.161 and standard error of difference was calculated as 0.086. t-ratio was calculated as 13.57, which was found significant at .01 level of confidence.

Results : Table-5 represents the significance of mean difference between Govt. and Private school girls on physical fitness component test of endurance i.e. 600 Yards Run/Walk.

1) Abdominal Strength through Sit-ups: This movement was taken as a measurement of abdominal strength. Abdominal strength may be defined as a rate of doing work and it refers to the ability to release maximum force in the shortest possible time against a resistance. Abdominal strength is considered a very important factor of physical fitness parameters. According to Table-1, t-ratio between government and private school girls on sit-ups in 28.81, which is more than the table value at .01 level of confidence. As the mean difference is 3.350, which is in favour of govt. group. More number of sit-ups indicates more abdominal strength. This shows that govt. school girls have more abdominal strength than private school girls. Hence, Hypothesis, "There will be significant difference in physical fitness components of govt. and private school girls is accepted. 2. Agility through Shuttle Run: This movement was taken as a measurement of agility. This is the ability of an individual to move the body and its parts through as wide range of motion as possible without facing undue strain at the articulations and muscle attachments. According to Table-2, t-ratio between government and private school girls on shuttle run is 15.65, which is more than the table value at .01 level of confidence. As the mean difference is 1.145, which is in favour of private group and lesser timing in shuttle run indicates more agility. This means that significant difference in physical and fitness components of Govt. and Private school girls" is accepted. 3. Power through Standing Long Jump: Power was measured by standing long jump. This is an important factor in the performance of physical skills. It is muscular force, exerted, against moveable and immovable objects and it differs from individual to individual. A certain degree of power is necessary in performing the physical skills. High degree of power is regarded as luxury for greater cases of performance. According to Table-3, t-ratio between government and private school girls on standing long jump is 93.39, which is more than the table value at .01 level of confidence. As the mean difference is 0.621, which is in favour of govt. group.High score of standing long jump indicates more power. This means that government school girls have more power than private school girls. Hence Hypothesis "There will be significant difference in physical fitness components of govt. and private school girls" is accepted. 4. Speed through 50 Yards Dash: The speed of the girls was measured by 50 yards dash. The speed is a prime quality of physical fitness components. The speed works which refer to the quickness and early reaction of body. According to Table-5, t-ratio between government and private school girls on 50 yards dash 13.57, which is more than the table value at .01 level of confidence. As the mean difference is 1.161, which is in favour of private group and decreased time of 50 yards dash indicates more speed. This means that the government school girls have more speed than the private school girls. Hence the Hypothesis "There will be significant difference in physical fitness components of govt. and private school girls" is accepted. 5. Endurance through 600 Yards Run/Walk: Endurance of the subjects was measured through 600 yards run/walk. The endurance is considered the longer stay in ground, working for longer duration as it is the energy of the body to be spent for a longer period. According to Table-5, t-ratio between government and private school girls on 600 yards run/walk is 27.66, which is more than the table value at .01 level of confidence. As the mean difference is 0.850, which is in favor of private group and decreased timing on 600 yards run/walk indicates more endurance. This means the government school girls have more endurance than the private school girls. Hence the Hypothesis "There will be significant

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Research Scholar, OPJS University, Churu, Rajasthan