Comparative Effectiveness of Two Methods of Teaching Physical Education to Elementary School Girls

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether there was a difference in the effectiveness of the traditional method and the movement exploration method of teaching physical education activities to elementary school girls. Four classes of fourth-grade girls (N = 67) were randomly assigned to the experimental conditions. A 2 × 2 × 3 factorial ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor was used to analyze the data. The first factor consisted of the traditional and movement exploration teaching methods. The second was a combination of instructional time and retention time. The third was test period and had three levels: pretest, posttest, and retention test. Skills taught were gymnastics and tumbling, and basketball. It was concluded that a combination of methods should be used in teaching elementary school physical education activities, depending upon the activities to be taught. A four-week unit (two 50-min periods per week) is suggested as the appropriate length for nine and ten year olds.     

Relationship of Physique and Developmental Level to Physical Performance

Abstract

A study was made of the relationship of physique and developmental level, determined by use of the Wetzel Grid, to performance of junior high boys on four fitness tests: pull-ups, 50-yd. dash, standing broad jump, and softball throw. Subjects of different physique groups (heavy, medium, and thin) who were alike developmentally (accelerated, normal, and retarded) differed more markedly in performance than did subjects of different developmental levels who were alike with regard to physique. Subjects who were medium in physique and normal in development were the best performers. Subjects of heavy physique (many overweight) were the poorest performers. This would seem to indicate the need for a restudy of classification methods, particularly when norms are to be used for evaluating performance.     

对影响学龄儿童健康因素的研究

以1 215名学龄儿童为被试，以适度睡眠、合理饮食、口腔卫生、体育锻炼、防止久坐五类健康促进因素与冒险、越轨、吸烟、过量饮酒、冒险骑车五类健康危害因素为对象，对影响其健康因素的结构特点进行了分析.研究结果表明，学龄儿童的健康危害因素间具有显著的正相关，而健康促进因素间的关系则较为复杂.验证性因素分析结果也表明，学龄儿童健康因素的结构特点主要包含两个因素，其中健康生活习惯因素主要包括适度睡眠、合理饮食与口腔卫生三类健康促进因素;冒险生活方式因素则包括冒险、越轨、吸烟、过量饮酒、冒险骑车五类健康危害因素以及体育锻炼、防止久坐两类健康促进因素.以期建立较为全面、合理的学龄儿童健康因素的结构模型，减少影响学龄儿童的健康危害因素，增大影响学龄儿童的健康促进因素，促进学龄儿童的身心健康发展.     

姿势性驼背体育康复方法的研究

为了探讨体育康复方法时于矫正姿势性驼背的效果,选取华东师范大学体育与健康学院03、04、05级的本科学生60名作为研究对象,其年龄在19～23岁之间,随机分为实验组和对照组,实验组同学进行为期3个月的运用体育康复方法进行姿势性驼背的矫正练习,对照组同学不进行姿势性驼背的矫正练习.实验证明,姿势性驼背的体育康复方法不但对于矫正姿势性驼背具有良好的效果,还可提高学生的健康状况.     

Carbohydrate and carbohydrate + protein for cycling time-trial performance

Carbohydrate intake during endurance exercise delays the onset of fatigue and improves performance. Two recent cycling studies have reported increased time to exhaustion when protein is ingested together with carbohydrate. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that ingestion of a carbohydrate + protein beverage will lead to significant improvements in cycling time-trial performance relative to placebo and carbohydrate alone. Thirteen cyclists completed 120 min of constant-load ergometer cycling. Thereafter, participants performed a time-trial in which they completed a set amount of work (7 kJ kg(-1)) as quickly as possible. Participants completed four experimental trials, the first for familiarization and then three randomized, double-blind treatments consisting of a placebo, carbohydrate, and carbohydrate + protein. Participants received 250 ml of beverage every 15 min during the constant-load ride. Time-trial performance for carbohydrate (37.1 min, s = 3.8) was significantly (P < 0.05) faster than placebo (39.7 min, s = 4.6). Time-trial performance for carbohydrate + protein (38.8 min, s = 5.5) was not significantly different from either placebo or carbohydrate. Ingestion of a carbohydrate beverage during two hours of constant-load cycling significantly enhanced subsequent time-trial performance compared with placebo. The carbohydrate + protein beverage provided no additional performance benefit.     

Seasonal progression and variability of repeat-effort line-drill performance in elite junior basketball players

To determine gender differences, positional differences, and patterns of change in the performance of the basketball line-drill test, 93 male (mean age 16.8 years, s = 1.1) and 95 female (mean age 16.5 years, s = 1.0) basketball players undertook 516 line-drill tests over a 5-year period. Log-transformed performance times were analysed using a mixed model that included quadratic within-participant fixed effects for time in the season and time in the programme. Changes and differences were standardized for interpretation of magnitudes. Mean performance times were 28.0 s (s = 1.3) for males and 30.4 s (s = 1.3) for females. The mean pattern of change in performance within a season differed substantially between the sexes and playing positions: male guards and female centres showed moderate to very large improvements mid-season of 1.1% and 3.5% respectively (90% confidence limits +/-2.1% and +/-3.0%), while female guards and male forwards showed large to very large decrements of -1.6% (+/-2.6%) and -2.4% (+/-2.0%). Over 3 years, males improved performance across all three playing positions by 1.4% (+/-1.3%) and females by 2.9% (+/-1.4%). Males improved performance by 0.2% (+/-0.5%) per year, whereas the performance of females deteriorated by 0.6% (+/-0.4%) per year. The differing patterns of performance change presumably reflect variations in training and competition loads, with short-term fluctuations in performance being managed to promote longer-term improvements.     

Evaluating the sustainability of SPARK physical education: a case study of translating research into practice

Dissemination and sustainability of evidence-based physical education programs (PE) has been studied rarely. The sustainability of a health-related PE program (SPARK) was independently evaluated in 111 elementary schools in 7 states. Surveys were mailed to schools that had received SPARK curriculum books, training and follow-up (response rate = 47%). Up to 80% of schools that adopted SPARK PE reported sustained use up to 4 years later. Schools using SPARK had more frequent PE classes. Sustained use was related to support from the principal, not previously having a standard PE program, having adequate equipment, and teachers being physically active. Program sustainability was similar in advantaged and disadvantaged schools. Evidence-based PE programs can be sustained up to 4 years.