| dc.description.abstract | The problem and purpose of this research -
At present there is no organized system of evaluating
physical education in South African schools.
The syllabus for physical education for girls (std.
6 - std. 10) consists of four main sections: Gymnastics, Dance, Water activities and Games.
Track-and-field is a subsection of Games. The purpose
of this research is to compose a short test battery
in track-and-field to determine the track-and-field
ability of girls in the high school
(12- 18 years).
In order to award points to the girl for her performance
in both the items which were included in the
test battery and the items which were not included,
achievement scales were drawn up for every age group
in all the items.
By doing this, it was possible to determine the difference
in performance between the different age
groups, with respect to all the items.
Method of research -
Data were collected of 2349 girls in the age groups
12 - 18 years from schools all over the Republic of
South Africa. The girls were tested by their physical
education teacher during physical education
periods in the following items high jump, long
jump, 50 meter, 100 meter, 150 meter, 200 meter,
400 meter, 800 meter, 1500 meter, 1000 meter race
walking, 70 meter hurdles, 75 meter hurdles, 80 meter
hurdles, javelin throwing, discus throwing, cricketball
throwing, shotput (4 kg.) and shotput (2,72
kg.).
Achievement scales were drawn up in all the events
for each age group by using the Hull scale. To determine
the relationship between every item and the
fixed criterion which consists of high jump, long
jump, 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter,
1500 meter, 80 meter hurdles, cricket ball throwing,
shotput (4 kg.), discus throwinq and javelin throwing
the correlation coefficient was calculated. This applied only
to the age groups 13 - 18 years.
Several test batteries with different combinations
were drawn up, while taking the following into
consideration:
a. No more than 5 items were included in a test
battery.
b. The items included in the test batteries must
as far possible have had a high correlation
with the criterion. Correlation between items
chosen had to be low.
c. It was attempted to cover a wide program by
including the basic track-and-field skills:
running, jumping and throwing; as well as the
basic fitness components: speed, power, endurance and co-ordination.
The multiple correlation coefficient of each test
battery was calculated with respect to the criterion.
The test battery with the highest multiple correlation
coefficient was considered to be the most suitable
test battery to determine the track-and-field
ability of the high school girl.
Conclusions -
1. To determine the track-and-field ability of the
high school girl, as part of an evaluating system
in physical education, the most efficient
test battery will consist of the following items: high jump, 100 meter, 800 meter, cricket ball throwing, discus throwing.
2. The second best test battery will consist of: high jump, 200 meter, 800 meter, cricket ball throwing, discus throwing.
3. The third best test battery will consist of: high jump or long jump, 200 meter, 800 meter, cricket ball throwing, shotput.
4. It is preferable to give the girl a choice.
Therefore the final test battery will be as
follow: high jump or long jump, 100 meter or 200 meter, 800 meter, cricket ball throwing, discus throwing or shotput.
(In case long jump is chosen, it must be in
combination with the 200 meter).
5. In case a test battery consisting only of 4 items
is preferred, the best combination will be: long jump, 200 meter, 800 meter,
cricket ball throwing.
6. There was an increase in performance as age increased
in the case of high jump, discus throwing,
javelin throwing, cricket ball throwing
and shotput.
7. The 13 year old girls obtained the best average
in the following items: 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter, 1500 meter, 1000 meter race walking, 70 meter hurdles, 75 meter hurdles, 80 meter hurdles.
8. The 14 year old girls obtained the best average
in the following items: 50 meter, 100 meter, 150 meter.
9. The 15 year old girls obtained the best average
in the following items: long jump, 50 meter, 100 meter.
10. The performance of the 12 year old girl was
noticeably weaker than those of the other age
groups, especially in comparison to the 13 year
old girl. This did not apply to the longer
distance races.
11. The speed of the white South African girl decreases
as soon as she reaches the age of 15
years.
12. The white South African girl performs best in
endurance running at the age of 13 years, after
which age there is a decrease in performance.
13. If cricket ball throwing, shotput, discus throwing
and javelin throwing are accepted as coordination
items, co-ordination increases as
the age of the girl increases (12 - 18 years).
14. Length and weight can influence the performance
of the girl in high school in the following items: sprints, middle distance running, discus throwing, shotput, javelin throwing, cricket ball throwing. | en_US |
