Effect of a six-month training programme on the physical capacities of Romanian schoolchildren

To analyze the effects of a training programme on the motor performance of Romanian schoolchildren.

A total of 178 boys (9.5+/-0.8 y, 34+/-9 kg, 137.6+/-8 cm) and 192 girls (9.6+/-0.4 y, 32.7+/-7.6 kg, 136.9+/-7.5 cm) were randomly selected for the training group (TG) (n=198, 109 girls, 89 boys) and control group (CG) (n=172, 83 girls, 89 boys). The TG completed a 6-mo extracurricular training programme (two 50-min sessions per week) involving moderate-intensity impact exercises. At baseline and at follow-up, the EUROFIT tests were administered, and body composition, skeletal maturation and BMI were calculated.

At baseline there were no differences in physical characteristics between TG and CG. With the exception of cardiorespiratory endurance, both groups improved motor performances at follow-up. However, for TG boys the improvement was greater than for CG boys in the plate-tapping (+37.2%), sit-up (+20.4%), standing broad-jump (+13%) and shuttle-run tests (+3.8%). TG girls improved more than CG girls only in the standing broad-jump (+18.8%) and shuttle-run (+8.5%) tests.

Boys and girls in trained groups demonstrated greater increases in some tests of motor performance compared to their untrained peers. Two extra sessions of physical education per week were sufficient to elicit improvements in a number of components of motor fitness.