PHYSICAL AND MOTOR FITNESS LEVEL OF INDIAN SCHOOL-GOING BOYS

A cross-sectional study of physical and motor fitness measurements was undertaken on 629 healthy Indian (Bengalee) school-going boys of 9-18 years. The study brought to light gradual increase in physical and motor fitness measurements with the advancement of age except physical fitness score. Major increments were recorded between 13 and 15 years of age. All the fitness test scores showed significant positive correlations with age, height and weight but Dash, Shuttle Run and PFI showed significantly negative relationship. Indian boys of the present study were superior in Sit and Reach and inferior in Vertical Jump to the Belgian boys of comparable ages. These boys showed higher values in Vertical Jump than American boys after the age of 13. Dash and Shuttle Run test scores of Indian boys fall between 15th to 25th and 30th to 45th percentiles of American Standard respectively. Besides, American boys are superior in Grip Strength to Indian boys. Percentile values of physical and motor fitness test scores of Indian (Bengalee) boys are, therefore, useful for determining their present fitness status and potentiality in that particular community for specific sports activity.