The relationship between the frequency of short bouts (> or =4 s) of activity and health was as strong as relationships identified between longer bouts (> or =5 min) and health. This is encouraging as sporadic intermittent activity is characteristic of children's activity pattern.

Objectives: Anthropometric and physiological profiles of national sepak takraw players were determined. Methods: Thirty nine players, specialising in the three playing positions (tekong/server, feeder, and killer/ spiker) were divided into three age categories of under 15 (U15), under 18 (U18), and under 23 (U23) years of age. Height, weight, percent body fat (%bf), maximum oxygen consumption (Vo 2max ), range of motion (ROM), back and leg strength, and heart rate, for the estimation of oxygen consumption during matches, were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using one way ANOVA for independent measurements and data are presented as mean¡standard deviation. Results: The U23 players were significantly taller and heavier with significantly better ROM of the neck, trunk, and ankle joints and back and leg strength than the U15 players. No significant difference was found in %bf between the three age categories. Mean maximum heart rate during exercise was significantly higher in the U15 group when compared to the U18 and U23 groups (p,0.05). Mean Vo 2max was similar between the three groups. Estimated oxygen consumption during matches was 69.1%, 68.5%, and 56.4% of Vo 2max in the killer, tekong, and the feeder groups, respectively. Conclusions: The mean height, body weight, and cardiopulmonary capacities of the players were within the Malaysian population norms, but were somewhat lower than those of players of other court games from other countries. %bf was also lower in these players. This study provides the much needed anthropometric and physiological data of sepak takraw players for further development of this sport. F ollowing its introduction in the 10th Asian Games in Beijing in 1990, and as a demonstration sport in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, sepak takraw has become one of the fastest growing games in Asia and has spread to over 20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Korea, Germany, England, India, Japan, Puerto Rico, Spain, and the USA. The game is played on an area the size of a doubles badminton court, with three players on each side of a 1.52 m high net (fig 1). A team consists of three players: feeder, tekong/server, and spiker/killer.

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Habit strength has the potential to minimize the deliberate processes associated with intention to exercise, thereby increasing the probability of intention-behavior translation. For specific habit processes, only negative affect appears to moderate the relationships between the TPB variables.

Numbers of studies has been done to determine physiological effect of physical activity (PA) on children's health throughout the life. However, few studies were done to determine psychological effects and markers towards PA specifi cally among Malaysian children. It is important to determine the motivational cues in performing the exercise behaviour among children, therefore help to sustain their PA throughout the life. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological correlates of PA and to provide evidence of psychological markers of PA habituation among children. Three hundred and eighty children (age 10.5 ± 0.5 years old) were randomly recruited from district of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia primary schools. Subject's height and weight (BMI) followed by PA-Q was obtained during the test visits. Results indicated that physical education enjoyment showed positive correlations with intention (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), attitude (r = 0.44, p < 0.01), subjective norms (r = 0.48, p < 0.01), behavioural control (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), habit strength (r = 0.49, p < 0.01) and the sustainability of doing PA outside the school (r = 0.23, p < 0.01). These data suggest that children PA is positively correlates with enjoyment experienced during physical education lesson during the school. Moreover, intention to perform exercise was positively correlates with attitude, subjective norm and behavioural control. Therefore, it can lead to the automaticity to perform the exercise behaviour regularly and increase the sustainability to carry it out throughout the life. on 30 April 2019 by guest. Protected by copyright.