Effect of a 22-Week Strength- and Endurance-Based Physical Education Programme on Students’ Development

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a physical education(PE) programme targeting strength and endurance development, in which the main activities were rope climbing, pull-ups, an obstacle course, 3000-m running and kickboxing, implemented over a 22-week period and for 260 minutes per week, on the physical development of students. A total of 477 students aged 19-21 (M= 20.1 ± 0.8) took part in the study, during which an intensive strength- and endurance-based physical training programme was carried out with the students by experienced physical training instructors over a period of 22 weeks. In order to assess the students’ physical development, weight measurement, hand grip, bent arm hang, push-up, sit-up, agility and 20-m shuttle run tests were carried out respectively as pretest and posttest. The tests were completed in two days. The obtained data were examined with paired samples t-test. The varied strength- and endurance-based activities (kickboxing, crossing obstacles, etc.) carried out with a certain intensity and over a specific period by the students made a positive contribution to the development of their strength, endurance (Vo2 Max) and agility characteristics.