Comparative analysis of physical fitness of primary school children From Krasnodar (Russian Federation) and chongqing (People’s Republic Of China) at the beginning of the academic year

Relevance. Currently, the assessment of physical fitness of children in the second childhood period demonstrates a number of shortcomings in the formation of basic physical qualities. Thus, the lack of individualization of the educational process in physical education of primary school students significantly reduces its effectiveness and does not determine the composition of the necessary conditions for the development of motivational-value and activity components of physical education. Purpose of the study. To establish the characteristics of physical fitness of children of the second childhood period at the beginning of the school year in comprehensive schools of Krasnodar and Liuychi Primary School of Chongqing. Organization and methods of the study. The survey involved 186 junior schoolchildren of MAOU Gymnasium No. 18 and Secondary Comprehensive School No. 35 of Krasnodar (89 boys and 97 girls), as well as 306 students (166 boys and 140 girls) of Liuychi Primary School of Chongqing. The study used: pedagogical testing and mathematical statistics. Research results. As the conducted studies have shown, girls of general education institutions of Krasnodar demonstrated lower results than boys in the parameters characterizing physical qualities: speed (t=3.57-5.52; p<0.05, with the exception of 10-year-olds), coordination and agility (t=3.104.99; p<0.05), general endurance (t=2.88–5.41; p<0.01) and strength endurance of the trunk muscles (t=2.57–4.18; p<0.05). At the same time, boys’ results in physical flexibility are lower (t=2.27–5.67; p<0.05). Girls were not inferior to their male peers in speed-strength capabilities (the corresponding indicators are not statistically different). In the comparative aspect between children from the compared cities, schoolchildren aged 8 (boys and girls) from Krasnodar showed the best results in 30 m running (speed qualities), while their Chinese peers showed better results. Boys (aged 10) from Chongqing demonstrated preferable results in coordination of movements and agility. Girls (aged 8) from Chongqing showed more advanced parameters of strength endurance of the trunk muscles. Conclusion. The parameters of physical fitness of children aged 8-10 studying in general education institutions of Krasnodar are presented as follows: girls are inferior to boys in terms of speed, coordination and agility, general endurance and strength endurance of the trunk muscles (sexual dimorphism). In turn, boys are inferior to girls in terms of physical flexibility. Analysis of the obtained indicators of physical fitness of primary school students in Chongqing showed no differences in the studied values in girls and boys. The conducted research demonstrated that the younger schoolchildren aged 9 years in Krasnodar and Chongqing practically did not differ in the parameters of physical fitness at the beginning of the school year. Krasnodar children aged 8 years (boys and girls) show the best ‘speed qualities’ and girls aged 8 years from Chongqing – the best parameters of strength endurance of the trunk muscles.