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Background. The abilities to maintain control of a particular body position, coordination and fluidity of movements are important factors in acquiring new skills during school education. Material and methods. The experimental group consisted of 25 students aged 6-7 years attending the first grade of a primary school in Poznań. We used standardized tests of graphomotor efficiency in children to assess the level and velocity of writing and measure velocity of hand movements. Results. Children aged 6 are faster in following the graphic letter symbols then their older classmates, however, older pupils present a higher graphic quality of the symbols. A significant positive correlation between the speed of hand movements and the rate of graphomotor movements was noticed in younger children, but not in older ones. Conclusions. The level of fine motor skills is different in the six-year-olds and seven-year-olds. This has to be taken into consideration in the developmental process and acquisition of new motor skills [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Students' moral development is one of the main educational goals of physical education curricula. Aim of Study. This study is an attempt at identifying what attitudes toward sportsmanship behavior are held by young adolescents from post-communist countries. Material and Methods. The sample included data from 547 boys and girls, aged 13-15, selected from schools in Poznan (Poland), Kustandil (Bulgaria), and Pristina (Kosovo). The study concerned sportsmanship dilemmas in three areas of moral development: judgment, reasoning, and intentions. The level of moral development was determined using the Horrocks Prosocial Play Behavior Inventory. Results. No significant effect was found in moral judgment, reasoning, and intentions between the teenagers from the examined countries. Conclusions. The findings suggest that the level of moral development of students in the three countries is similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Education. Physical Training. Sport / Ugdymas. Kûno kultûra. Sportas is the property of Lithuanian Sports University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. Before introducing changes into study programs one needs to recognize areas of strengths and weaknesses in current practice. In the case of physical education, school apprenticeship is one of the critical elements of pre-service teachers' preparation. The aim of the study was to measure the level of physical education students and teachers in terms of their practical preparation for school teaching. Material and methods. In the design of the study an action research model has been employed. For collecting data a self-designed questionnaire was developed including questions in three areas: organizational, didactic and socio-cultural, using 5-point Likert scale. A sample of 128 second-year students of physical education (62 female and 66 male students) and a sample of 44 PE teachers (16 men and 28 women) were examined. Results. Both the students and pre-service teachers indicated the lowest competence in organizational aspects while the highest one in socio-cultural aspects. Whereas in-service PE teachers assessed their highest competence in organizational aspects. Generally, in-service teachers' self-evaluation was higher than the students' one in all aspects. Conclusions. Findings showed which areas need stronger emphasis during the course of studies before students are sent to school for teacher apprenticeship. A dissonance between the examined in-service teachers' high self-evaluation and rather inadequate tutoring of students during school teacher apprenticeship reported in other research studies is worth testing in more in-depth studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the research on the physical activity of school youth in three European countries (Poland, Bulgaria, Kosovo) which are at different stages of socio-economic development and, therefore, of different possibilities and conditions in terms of leisure and mobility. The purpose of this cognitive study was to diagnose certain aspects of the lifestyle of young people aged 13-16 from Kosovo, Bulgaria and Poland, with a particular focus on physical activity. The practical aim, however, was an indication of such actions, arising from past experience that would aim at improving lifestyle, and could lead to the elimination or prevention of certain causes of physical inactivity by the youth of the countries surveyed. The research was conducted by the use of a diagnostic survey of a group of 524 people aged 13-16, among whom there were 88 people from Bulgaria, 136 people from Poland and 300 people from Kosovo. The research material was collected in 2012. The research that was carried out shows that the level of wealth (not so much of the family, but of the specific country) may have an impact on the choice of activities chosen by the youth. Undoubtedly socio-cultural factors and the tradition of social life, which impose certain ways of spending leisure time (as can be seen particularly in the case of the Bulgarian and Kosovar youth) are also of great importance. The above observations, taking into account local conditions, should be the starting point for all those who plan to introduce changes in the physical education systems in each of these countries in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on a research that examines the three types of physical education (PE) classes that correspond to the phases of the teaching or learning process such as type 1, type 2, and type 3 classes. It states that 350 schoolchildren aged 13 years from three urban schools in Pozna&#x0144 served as subjects of the study which involved 202 PE lessons. Results show that type 2 classes, consist of selecting and applying skills, caused the most cardio-respiratory responses.

Modern research related to health problems has been concerned with three most important branches: psychosomatic medicine, behavioural medicine and -- most recently -- health psychology. This points to the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the problems of health and disease. At the same time social changes require adjustments in educational systems and strategies with a great degree of flexibility and interchangeability. In young people the enhancement of physical activity needs to target such determinants as increasing intentions to be active, reduction of perceived barriers and increasing the time spent outdoors in a physically active way. The paper examines determinants of enhancement of physical activity in an interdisciplinary and setting approach and provides potential health educators with points to consider while arranging community or school-based physical activity enhancing programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The reduced level of physical activity negatively influences motor fitness. Low cardiovascular fitness among Polish pupils and worsening results in motor abilities are associated with the growing overweight and obesity as much as with maturation processes. Therefore research in 13-year-old boys (n=221) and girls (n=224) from Poznan was conducted to find relationships between maturation processes and the level of motor fitness. Basic procedure. The subjects, assessed for the stage of biological development based on the indices of forehead and pubic hair, the growth of breasts, the body type and menstruation in girls, were divided into early, average and late mature groups. Motor fitness was examined with the use of the Eurofit battery of test. Main findings. The best results were generally achieved by pupils with the average rate of biological maturation, except for bend-arm hang. Conclusions. The rate of biological maturation influences motor achievements, particularly in puberty. Better achievements of the average maturing group indicate the important role of morphological characteristics, especially in regard to body height and body mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main health-related problems Europe is facing today is the increasing prevalence of obesity in all age groups, especially in youth. According to the International Obesity Task Force (2004) 155 million school-age children and adolescents worldwide show symptoms of obesity or overweight. Obese children are less confident, have lower self-esteem and engagement rate both in and after school physical activity. This is becoming a huge and very costly economic and social problem as well. Positive changes will require modification of the physical education curriculum, especially its contents and teachers' approach. Specially designed programs are required. HEALTH(A)WARE (128737-CP-1-2006-1-DE-Comenius-C2) is a project funded by the European Commission in the Socrates-Comenius Program to enable experimental health teaching within and across school courses. Cross-curricular instruction of knowledge and skills may help pupils in the process of lifelong learning, and hopefully may be implemented in the curricula of European schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to make an attempt to determine an extension of exercise intensity and energy expenditure during the whole day of physical activity of youths from gymnasium, coming into the period of pubertal maturation. Differences between the extension of exercise loads, undertaken during the fall-winter and spring-summer periods, are also determined. Studies were carried out in 10 boys and 10 girls by the registration of their physical activity twice during 24 h -- in the fall-winter and the spring-summer periods, in common days of the week. The registration of exercise loads was realized by the Sport-Testers of Polar Company, model S 610i. Comparing the level of physical activity in the fall-winter and spring-summer periods in the 13-year-old girls, it was observed that there was an increase of the time of the duration of exercises undertaken above 140 bpm (50% of HRR). During 24 hours only 6-7% of time (about 90 minutes) for boys, and even less -- only 4-6% (about 60-90 minutes) for girls was set off for exercises of load stimulating functions of oxygen supply, that is at the level above 140 bpm (above 50% of HRR). A characteristic phenomenon was an observed relation between energy expenditure at the level above 3000 kcal in winter and summer, while on average it was amounted to a half less during 24 hours. Hence, comparing intensity load scopes in these two examined periods a decreased level of physical activity in the fall-winter period was observed among both the examined girls and boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researching the factors influencing the patterns of morphological development has been carried out for years, but not so many surveys were concerned with the period of pubescence, though. The aim of the study was to examine gender differences in selected morphological traits in boys and girls aged 13 from the highly urbanized area of the city of Poznań. There were 224 boys and 227 girls examined for the evaluation of the Tanner's stage of development and morphological variables such as: body height, body mass, sum of skinfolds, WHR index and in girls for the occurrence of the first menarche. The body composition components were estimated with the bio-impedance method. Pupils from the accelerated group were characterized by the highest body size and the body mass and in boys differences between groups were observed in all the morphological traits, while in girls the differences were indicated only in the body height and the body mass. The results of the research partially confirm the findings of other authors, though the limited size of the accelerated and retarded groups, as well as homogeneity of the examined group, did not allow the author to make any broader generalization of the findings, which would require more in-depth analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Olympism needs to be considered equally: first as values and ideals recognized and accepted over centuries and second as widely accepted values (specially by sportsmen and youth), which can be an ideal starting point for global education based on Olympic ideals. There are two ways of promoting Olympism. In countries organizing the Olympic games it becomes an integral part of the Olympic preparation schedule. Another way of promotion comes through Olympic education programs in other countries having some associations with the Olympic movement - mainly through academic staff involved in works of the International and National Olympic Academies. Material and methods: For the purposes of the paper, an analysis of several studies on olympism in Poland was carried out. There is also a report from the three-year experimental intervention program introduced among 13 year old pupils in Poznań in year 2000. There were 230 boys and 220 girls aged 13 included in the first stage of the project of whom 106 boys and 100 girls fulfilled complete pre-and post test examination criteria. Results/Conclusions: There is a reasonable chance for participation of children in sport based on ideals. Hence, introducing fair play behaviour standards to the lifestyle of youth should be one of the main concern of school education. Probably the most effective period for introducing programs enhancing moral development will be in early school years; the change of Olympic awareness could be observed among 13-16-year-olds already. Practice of sport, influenced by the philosophical anthropology of Olympism, offers a context and a route for PE teachers to achieve a number of important aims relating to moral education, among which he points at coherence between various approaches to practical and theoretical work and at possibility of implementation of intellectual content based on Olympic ideas but adjusted to the abilities of different age--categories of school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica is the property of Palacky University in Olomouc and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

he decreasing level of physical activity and fitness is a cause of serious health problems (cardiovascular, endocrine, orthopedic, psychosocial) even in the youngest population, where growing obesity becomes more and more visible reality. Sedentary life style reduces muscle mass and more fat tissue in body composition became a "norm". In the case of overweight and obesity, public costs of medical treatment and clinical testing are enormous. Therefore reliable, valid and easy in use testing tools are required for the population-wide prevention strategies and intervention programs. In the paper we have verified laboratory and field testing methods in two most important determinants of obesity prevention, showing scientifically proven dependence, namely: fat and endurance measuring. It was concluded that the field methods tested in the work turned to be valuable and reliable tools at the level sufficient for health educators and professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica is the property of Palacky University in Olomouc and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica is the property of Palacky University in Olomouc and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)