Strength and agility skills of grade 1-learners: North-West child study

Abstract

The aim of this study was firstly to determine the current profile of strength and agility skills of Grade 1-learners in the North-West Province and, secondly, to establish whether there was gender differences with regard to these skills. The study included 816 Grade 1-learners (419 boys and 397 girls). The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor-Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2) was used to evaluate the children’s strength and agility skills. The results showed meaningful gender differences with respect to the strength skills of the learners, since boys performed better in the standing long jump (p=0.001) and push-ups (p=0.001) and girls did better in the wall-sit (p=0.044). Gender differences were found also when considering agility skills. Boys performed significantly better in the 15m-shuttle run (p=0.001) and the girls did significantly better in the sideways step over a balance beam, and one-legged and two-legged sideways hops. Grade 1-learners exhibit sufficient strength and agility skills while gender differences were noticeable in the strength and agility skills of these learners.

Key words: Motor proficiency; Bruininks-Oseretsky Test; Speed; Agility; Strength; Grade 1-learners.