Increasing the level of functional and physical fitness among secondary school students by means of hockey

Statement of the problem. The article discusses the problem of increasing the level of functional and physical fitness of students in secondary education institutions using hockey tools. In recent years, there has been a tendency to increase attention to the physical development of schoolchildren, especially in the framework of sports and physical education programs aimed at improving overall endurance, strength, and coordination. Hockey, as a high-intensity sport, has significant potential for the development of these qualities in adolescents, but its use in the school curriculum remains insufficiently widespread and scientifically justified. There is a need to develop methods adapted to the age and physiological characteristics of students in order to effectively implement hockey exercises and training in physical education classes at school. The purpose of the article is to identify the effectiveness of the content of physical education classes with elements of hockey for students of secondary schools within the framework of the school physical education program aimed at improving the level of functional and physical fitness of students. Methodology (materials and methods). The study was conducted in three stages: at the preparatory stage, analysis of scientific literature was carried out and a lesson plan was developed, including exercises for developing basic physical qualities and skills of playing hockey; at the main stage, experimental and control groups were formed, and initial testing of physical fitness was conducted. Then, for three months, elements of hockey were included in the syllabus of the classes in the experimental group, while the control group practiced according to the standard program without elements of hockey (classes were held three times a week for 90 minutes); at the final stage, repeated testing of the level of physical fitness was carried out, a comparative analysis of the results and assessment of their effectiveness were carried out. Research results. An increase in the level of physical fitness of the students involved in hockey was revealed compared to the students of the control group. In the experimental group, there was an increase in muscle strength, an increase in movement coordination and speed, as well as an increase in overall endurance. The parameters of the Roufier test also demonstrated an increase in the level of the functional state of the cardiovascular system among students involved in hockey.