Physiological characteristics and physical fitness of girls at the beginning of classes at the volleyball sports school

Abstract

We studied the state of physical fitness and the physiological characteristics display of girls at age 9 and 10 who just started to attend a volleyball sports school. Material: The study involved girls at age 9 (n = 73) and 10 (n = 76), all from one town, who at that age began classes at the volleyball sports school in 2015, 2016, and 2017. We studied physical fitness by the development of motor abilities, using the Eurofit tests. Physiological characteristics were related to the activity of the cardiovascular, respiratory, neuromuscular systems, the required data were obtained using well-known functional tests. Results: at the beginning of classes at the volleyball sports school, the development of motor abilities and physiological characteristics of girls at age 9 correspond to the low level, girls at age 10 - to the average level. Girls at age 9 have significantly lower (at the level of p <0.05 to p <0.001) values of the indicators than girls at age 10. They only have heart rate, blood pressure unchanged; by value of indicators all girls are within the age norm. The above is confirmed by other similar studies that took place one and two years earlier in the same town. Conclusions: It is advisable for girls to engage in volleyball at SSOR starting from 10 years old. In the case of the beginning of classes at age 9 it is necessary to pay increased attention to the development of their motor abilities and physiological characteristics during the school year. Along with that, it is important in this period to increase the girls motivation to regular volleyball classes at SSOR.