DO TODAY’S PUPILS FALL BEHIND THEIR PEERS FROM 15 YEARS AGO?

Abstract

Introduction. Authors in their contribution deal with the issue of testing physical abilities of children at schools. The aim of the survey was to find out the level of general motor abilities of pupils of 1st grade of elementary schools in the region of Nitra. Material and method. The sample of pupils consisted of 169 pupils (male = 96 and female = 73). The observed general motor performance was compared with the findings of other authors (Moravec, et al., 2002; Sedláček, 2009; Zapletalová, 2002). Results. Based on the comparison we came to the conclusion that the level of general motor performance of pupils of grade 1 of elementary school has decreased in both genders comparing to the previous decades. Conclusion. We expect that implementation of regular testing of elementary school pupils would contribute to the increase in the amount of physical activity of children and consecutively in the level of their motor abilities.

Keywords

• testing, pupils of 1st and 3rd grades, elementary school, physical abilities.