A STUDY REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ATHLETIC EXERCISES IN ENDURANCE DEVELOPMENT, FOR 8TH GRADE STUDENTS IN RURAL AREAS Corina IVAN 1 Viorel BĂRĂGOI Abstract The curriculum for Physical Education and Sports contains certain standards regarding the development of motor skills. This paper serves to present the results of an experimental study, conducted in a rural school, which focused on increasing aerobic endurance. The aim of the study lies in demonstrating that the athletic methods that were employed, are efficient and productive regardless of the environment (urban or rural). At its core, the study means to show that by using methodical models based on running, with elements of volume, intensity and recuperation intervals, a leap in performance may be achieved, regarding the capacity for aerobic effort. Additionally, by performing the experiment, we may find which of the two methods currently used the in school is more effective. Surprisingly, the measurements have shown that although the interval method is preferred by the students, better results were obtained by using continuous running. This aspect was further emphasized by the marked increase in thoracic elasticity. Keywords: athletics, aerobic endurance, students, running JEL classification:: A21; I10; I31 1. Introduction Across the globe, education remains true to the ancient ideal Mens sana in corpore sano. This concept is applied in Romanian villages as well. Although some are far from urban aspects of life, they are being progressively marked by modern technology, the main factor driving people away from nature and locking them inside virtual worlds. Inside the curriculum for Physical Education and Sports, the standards for performance also focus on achieving optimal values for aerobic resistance. 1.1. Purpose The paper serves to show that some athletic means, if properly used, act efficiently on students from rural areas. 1 Corina Ivan, UNEFS București, corinaivan.javelin@yahoo.com Viorel Bărăgoi, School I-VIII Cislău 88
Marathon 1.2. Hypothesis Starting from the two main methods used in physical education for developing endurance, we began researching which of these was more efficient when significant differences in performance measuring occurred, and if so how much did these differ. Our experiment would prove altogether that regardless of the applied method, the exercises used for preparing distance runners (put into categories by methodology models, with functional units based on running and volume, intensity and predetermined recovery intervals) are significantly effective. 2. Subjects, conditions, methods and means The study was conducted in a school from Cislau village, during the 2011-2012 school year, on a group of 20 students (15 boys and 5 girls), organized into two approximately homogeneous experimental groups. Group no. 1, with a count of seven boys and three girls (G1-b and G1-g) was subjected to a training program that used an interval running method, while Group no. 2, with 8 boys and 2 girls (G2-b and G2-g), focused on a continuous running method. The experiment was spread out over 16 lessons, from January till May. The geographical location of the village offers a varying thermal gradient, vertically, which in turn provides temperatures between -1.7 and - 3 in January. These temperatures allow for outdoor sport activities. The school facilities list includes a bituminous handball court, 30 meters of running track, a sandpit and a gym closely located to the village football field. The field was used often during the experimental study. Two measurements (initial and final) of the functional indicators (heart rate - HR and chest elasticity - CE), as well as athlete motility (control sample of 1000m for boys and 800 m for the girls) were carried out. The obtained data was tabulated and statistically analyzed. 2.1. Experimental parameters The first cycle of lessons Tabel 1 Lessons 1, 3, 5, 7 4/3 X 200m atu (50 s-55s) P: 1. 800/600m Tu (uniform tempo) (3:45-4:0/2:45-3:00). P :1:30 Total running: 800/600m. Total running: 800/600m. Vol. VII Nr. 1 2015 89
Tempo: 25-27 s/100m (3.7-4.0 m/s). Tempo: 20-30s/100m (3.3-3.6 m/s). Total working time: 6:30-7:00/5:30- Total working time:5:00-5:30/3:00-4:00) of 6:00) of which for effort 3:20- which 3:45-4:00/2:45-3:00) for effort and 1:30 3:45/2:30-2:45 and 4:00/3:00 for for recovery. recovery. Tabel 2 Lessons 2, 4, 6, 8 2 X 500/400m Tu (2:05-2:15/1:40-1:50). 1000/800m Tu (4:40-5:00/3:45-4:00). Break: 1:30. Break:1:30. Total running: 1000/800m. Tempo: 25-27s/100 (3.7-4,00m/s). Total working time: 7:00-7:30/6:20-6:40 of which 4:00-4:30/3:20-3:40, for effort, and 3:00/3:00 for recovery. The second cycle of lessons Tabel 3 Lessons 9, 11, 13, 15 Total running: 1000/800m. Tempo: 28-30s/100m (3.3-6m/s). Total working time: 6:00-6:30 /5:15-5:30 of which 4:40-5:00 /3:45-4:00 for effort, and 1:30 for recovery 5/4 X 200m Tu (45-50 s) P: 1 min. 1200/100 Tu (5:36-6:00/4:40-5:00) P 1:30 Total running: 1000/800m. Total running: 1200/1000m. Tempo: 23-25 s/100m (4-4.3 m/s). Total working time: 8:50-9:10/7:00-7:20) of which 3:50-4:10/3:00-3:20 for effort and 5/4 min for recovery. Tabel 4 Lessons 10, 12, 14, 16 Tempo: 28-30s/100m (3.3-3.6 m/s). Total working time:7:00-7:30/6:00-6:30 of which 5:36-6:/4:40-5:00 for effort and 1:30 for recovery. 2 X 600/ 500m Tu (2:18-2:30/1:55-2:05) P 1400/1200m Tu (6 32-7 00/5 36), 1:30. P:1 30. Total running: 1200/1000m. Total running: 1400/1200m. Tempo: 23-25 s/100m (4-4.3m/s). Tempo: 28-30 s/100m (3.3-3.6m/s). Total working time: 7:36-8:/6:50-7:10 of which 4:36-5:/3:50-4:41 for effort, and 3:00/3:00 for recovery. Total working time: 8:00-8:30/7:00-7:30 of which 6:30-7:00/5:30 for effort, and 1:30/1:30 for recovery. 3. Results. The obtained results are presented as summary tables (5 and 6) 90
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Marathon 4. Data processing The results we obtained are suitable for analysis and interpretation. The statistical and mathematical processing of the experimental data was conducted using: arithmetic mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, the rate of progress, the t test for low volume sample correlation. 4.1. Anthropometrical and functional indices Chest perimeter (CP) For Group no.1, the difference between TI and TF shows an increase of only 5.55% thoracic elasticity, unlike Group no. 2 where the percentage increase is of 27.65%. The recorded values for the two groups are of two homogeneous groups with a lower dispersion than the average.. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Rate progress SD (T1) SD (T2) CV% (T1) CV (T2) 2 1 0 Group no. 1 BOYS Group no. 2 BOYS Graph. 1 Chest perimeter In Vol. VII Nr. 1 2015 93
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Rate progress SD (T1) SD (T2) CV% (T1) CV (T2) 1 0 Group no. 1 BOYS Group no. 2 BOYS Graph. 2 Chest perimeter Exhale Heart Rate (HR) The decrease in heart rate, a sign for effort adaptation, is 7.69% for Group no. 1, and almost double, 13.68%, for Group no. 2. The values of the standard deviation and coefficient of variation also highlight group homogeneity. The data confirms that, after standard physical strain, heart rate changes are significant in students who do not regularly practice physical exercise. The obtained results demonstrate that the heart s economy function improved (the difference between the initial and final values) significantly more in Group no. 2, where the cooldown rate is 21 beats / min, compared to 12.9 beats / min in Group no. 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 Rate progress SD (T1) SD (T2) CV% (T1) CV% (T2) 2 0 Group no. 1 BOYS Group no. 2 BOYS Graph. 3 Heart Rate 94
Marathon 4.2. The motility tests In order to measure the effectiveness of the employed means, control trials were used. These consisted of 1000m flat for boys and 800m flat for girls, performed towards the end of January 2012 for the initial testing, and respectively towards the end of May 2012 for final testing. The obtained data as well as statistical calculations of these tests can be found in Tables 1 and 2. For Group no. 1, the difference between the initial testing results (241.7 seconds - 4,01min) and the final testing results (217.7 sec - 3 Min.37 sec) shows a performance improvement of 11% (24 seconds). Meanwhile Group no. 2 showed a performance improvement of 14.7% (30.7 seconds). Both groups show a decline in the standard deviation value since all the students more or less improved their results. The level for the coefficient of variation, which also follows a downward trend, underlines class homogeneity. 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 Rate progress SD (T1) SD (T2) CV% (T1) CV% (T2) 2 0 Group no. 1 BOYS Group no. 2 BOYS Graph. 4 1000 m race 5. Research limitations Although the study group seriously applied themselves during the experiment, there still were small inconveniences. These elements constitute limits for research, however, we believe they did not have a significant effect on the conclusions drawn from the data analysis. The elements are identified and discussed below. Vol. VII Nr. 1 2015 95
One of the limitations consisted of lack of involvement from students during the initial testing trial, which led to an impersonal proceeding. This in itself was countered by the efforts made in order to have the students understand the role preparation has in achieving the final results. The obstacle seems to have been well dealt with, considering the significant difference between the initial and final testing events. Another obstacle for this type of research lies in the sample size (group sample), in our case the small number of students. This is however, a well-known and universally accepted feature for rural school population. Other influential factors consist of the timeframe for the study (16 lessons), and the statistically analyzed data for the girls, which, due to their small number (5), may be considered a distortion factor. 6. Conclusions The data we obtained allows us to bring up some positive aspects regarding the overall situation of the medium. The positive results obtained from testing, show that the two means used to develop resistance: continuous effort and interval running, have increased efficiency in cardio-respiratory development and overall endurance. These findings certify that the premises of our research is correct. The recorded progress for the resistance test of both groups, proves the effectiveness of the two methods, which may be used even in the precarious conditions that rural schools sometimes face. SELECTIVE REFERENCES 1. Barbu, C., Stoica, M., 2000. Metodica predării exerciţiilor de atletism în lecţia de educaţie fizică. Bucureşti, Editura Printech 2. Dragomir, P., Scarlat, E., 2004. Educaţie fizică şcolară. Bucureşti, Editura Didactică şi Pedagogică 3. Scarlat, E., Scarlat, M.B., 2002. Educaţie fizică şi sport. Manual pentru învăţământul gimnazial. Bucureşti, Editura Didactică şi Pedagogică 4. Şerbănoiu, S., 2002. Lecţia de educaţie fizică. Bucureşti, Colecţia Activităţi Motrice Formative 5. Tudor, V., 2001. Evaluarea în educaţie fizică şcolară. Bucureşti, MTS 96