Circuit Training Time Allotments in a Typical Physical Education Class Period

Abstract

As an attempt in determining the relative effectiveness of three time allotments to circuit training and active games in a typical physical education class period, treatment groups were assigned either a 5- and 25-minute, a 10- and 20-minute, or a 15- and 15-minute distribution of time. Pre- and post-measures were taken on six circuit exercises: leg-exchanges, squat-thrusts, sit-ups, bench-steps, push-ups, and pull-ups. Significant improvement was observed for all three groups on all exercise. The 15-minute allotment to circuit training resulted in significantly better performances on sit-ups and leg-exchanges than the 5-minute allotment, but in lower performance on bench-steps when compared to the 10-minute allotment.