Original scientific paper
Sex Differences in Motor Characteristics of Elementary School Children Included/Not Included in Swimming Training
Renata Pavić
Viktorija Trninić
Ratko Katić
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the development of motor abilities in elementary school fifth- to eighth-graders (age
11–14 years) according to sex, age and physical activity. Study sample included 312 subjects divided according to age
and sex into four groups: male subjects aged 11–12 (n=93) and 13–14 years (n=84); and female subjects aged 11–12
(n=65) and 13–14 years (n=70). Then, differences in basic motor abilities between children included (experimental group)
and those not included (control group) in swimming training were analyzed. In male fifth- and sixth-graders, experimental
group was superior to control group in the variables of trunk repetitive strength, sprint, flexibility and coordination,
while in male seventh- and eighth-graders experimental group showed better performance than control group in
agility, aerobic endurance and explosive throw and jump strength. In female fifth- and sixth-graders, experimental group
proved superior to control group in the variables of explosive strength, coordination, trunk strength and aerobic endurance,
whereas in female seventh- and eighth-graders experimental group had better performance in coordination, endurance,
explosive strength, speed and flexibility. Discriminative analysis of motor variables between male and female subjects
revealed male subjects to be superior in explosive strength, throw strength in particular, coordination and aerobic
endurance, whereas female subjects showed better performance in the variables of flexibility and movement frequency, leg
movement in particular. Study results showed the formation of appropriate motor system determining achievement of top
results in swimming to be influenced by swimming training from age 11 to 14. In male children, motor system was found
to integrate coordination/agility, aerobic endurance and explosive strength, whereas in female children it integrated coordination
in terms of cortical movement regulation, aerobic endurance, explosive strength and psychomotor speed.
Keywords
motor status of children; swimming training; sex differences
Hrčak ID:
27067
URI
Publication date:
2.9.2008.
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