Enhancing health and well-being: unlocking the speed abilities of 9-year-old primary school children

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Physical activity is the key to fostering healthy growth and development in children. Encouraging children to engage in activities that enhance their speed abilities not only boosts their physical fitness but also contributes to their mental and emotional well-being. The purpose of the study - exploring speed abilities: a comparative study of 9-year-old primary school children in Ukraine and beyond.
 Materials and Methods. The study was conducted at Kharkiv Central Educational School № 105 in Ukraine. A total of 29 children from the 4th grade (17 boys and 12 girls) participated in the study. These children were previously screened by a medical practitioner and were found to be in good health. Informed consent was obtained from the parents or guardians of the children, emphasizing their voluntary participation and the potential benefits and risks associated with the study. The study focused on assessing the speed abilities of the participating children. The tests included: 1) Running 30 meters (The time taken by each participant to run a distance of 30 meters was recorded in seconds); 2) Jumping rope (The number of times each participant successfully completed jumping rope within one minute was measured).
 Results. The study revealed that the general level of development of speed abilities among the participating children corresponded to the average level observed for this age group. Jumping Rope Results: 1) Boys - the average number of successful jumps per minute was 74.94 ± 13.85; 2) Girls - the average number of successful jumps per minute was 76.00 ± 28.16. 30-Meter Run Results: 1) Boys - the average time taken to complete the run was 6.64 ± 0.10 seconds; 2) Girls - the average time taken to complete the run was 6.63 ± 0.11 seconds.
 Conclusions. The findings of this study contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the speed abilities of 9-year-old primary schoolchildren, offering valuable insights for educators, researchers, and policymakers. Understanding the specific performance levels of boys and girls in jumping rope and running can inform the development of targeted interventions and programs aimed at enhancing speed-related skills among this age group.