AGE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN A 10 × 4 M SHUTTLE RUN TEST FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 10

Abstract

The performance level of young people is often used to define their well-being. In fact, several studies observing correlations between health conditions (e.g. obesity and growth) have been combined. In Macedonia, there is lack of research in defining the physical fitness level of children and adolescents. A total of 4162 Macedonian children aged 6–14 (2103 boys) participated in the study. We assessed motor fitness by means of the 4 × 10 m shuttle run test. The results were processed using statistical parametric methods of relevance. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that boys, unlike girls, in all age categories show better results in the 4 × 10 m shuttle run test, and these differences are most pronounced at the age of 14. The trend of the curve indicates a continuous moderate improvement of the result of the test, “shuttle run 10 x 4 meters” with the increase of age in both sexes. Critical performance suggests improvement in PE lessons both from a qualitative and a quantitative point of view.