THE RELATION BETWEEN GENERAL PHYSICAL FITNESS OF 1–3 YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND THE NUMBER OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION LESSONS IN A SEMESTER

Abstract

Aim. The paper aims to identify the relation between physical fitness of male and female full-time university students and the number of physical education lessons in a semester. Materials and methods. The authors identified changes in the general physical fitness of university students (pairwise correlation). The following tests were used: 60 m running performance (male and female students), standing long jump (male and female students), 1000 m running performance (male students), high pull ups (male students). The study involved 706 male students and 1109 female students (1^st year), 207 male students and 377 female students (2^nd year), 33 male students and 16 female students (3^rd year). Results. There was a significant decrease in the development of speed and speed-strength performance of the lower limbs in male and female university students (1^st and 2^nd year), endurance and strength performance of the upper limbs in male students with a decrease in the number of physical education lessons by one in two weeks. In 3^rd year students, the abovementioned physical parameters significantly increased with the increase of physical education lessons by one in two weeks. In 3^rd year female students, there was no significant difference in 60 m running performance and standing long jump. Conclusion. The decrease or increase of physical education lessons by 1 in 2 weeks in a semester significantly affects general physical fitness of university students regardless of the year of study. It is important to take into account the number of academic weeks in the spring semester and the number of physical education lessons in a week and two-week cycles for the analysis of general physical fitness of university students during the academic year and the development of standards for physical performance.