semmelweis university - Faculty of Physical Education and Sport ...

Eszter Szabó
Semmelweis University, Faculty of P. E. and Sport Sciences (TF), Budapest, Hungary
Supervisor: Dr. Katalin Keresztesi, associate professor
Consultant: Dr. István Farmosi, associate professor
Comparison of Development Trend in 7-11 Year-old Children
Introduction: According to several publications there are more or less differences in physical
development and motor performances of children depending on age. The aim of this study
was to evaluate the differences of physical development and motor performance of students
attending primary school.
Materials and methods: 403 students, 192 boys and 211 girls were studied for physical
development and motor performance in 2009, at Keszthely in Hungary. Body height, body
weight were taken, moreover 20 m dash, standing board jump, six minutes continuous
running, throws with stuffed-ball and obstacle race-test were studied. Data were collected in
spring and in autumn and evaluated with use of SPSS programme. Mean value, standard error,
standard deviation and coefficient of variation were calculated. For evaluating the
significance of difference between the age of the group‘s mean values, ‖t‖-test was used.
Results: The data show that a big part of the differences are justified significantly. The
majority of them are considerably significant. The biggest differences are listed as follows: In
the body height and body weight the biggest difference was found between 7 and 8 year-old
age groups (9.27 cm, and 5.99 kg) for boys, and between 8 and 9 year-old groups for girls
(10.36 cm, and 8.21 kg). In 20 m dash the boys showed the biggest difference between 10 and
11 year-old age (0.44 sec), while that of girls between 7 and 8 year-old age (0.46 sec). In the
standing board jump the biggest difference was found between 8 and 9 year old groups (12.23
cm) for boys and between 9 and 10 year-old groups (8.27 cm) for girls. In throws with
stuffed-ball the biggest difference was found between 10-11 year-old groups, both for boys
(134.31 cm) and for girls (90.38) cm. In the six minute continuous running the biggest
difference was found between 7 and 8 year-old age groups in case of boys (150.) (24 m) and
girls (153.15 m). The obstacle race-test showed the biggest difference between 8 and 9 yearold
age groups of boys (3.36 sec) and between 9 and 10 year-old groups of girls (2.48 sec).
These data mean that the obtained differences are not accidental, but can be caused by
systematic factors having an effect on acceleration.
Conclusion: It seems that the most sensitive age period in body development is the 7-8 years
in case of boys and 8-9 years in case of girls. In running the younger (7-8 years) age, while in
throw the older (10-11 years) age seems to be the most sensitive period. It is thought that the
examined period is a complex and sensitive phase from point of view of motor development.
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