Secular Contrasts in Physical Fitness and Athletic Skills in Japanese Elementary School Students (11-Year-Olds)

Yukitomo Yogi (), Yasunari Ishikawa and Shuichi Takahashi
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Yukitomo Yogi: Department of Sports Sociology and Health Sciences, Faculty of Sociology, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan
Yasunari Ishikawa: Major in Physical Education, Faculty of Education, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
Shuichi Takahashi: Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Physical Education, Japan Women’s College of Physical Education, Tokyo 157-8565, Japan

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Since 1964, Japan has been conducting a wide fitness and athletic skills evaluation among 2000–3000 school children. This study used data made public by the Japan Sports Agency from four events that have continuously been evaluated from 1964 to 2021—grip strength, 50 meter dash, repetitive side jumps, and softball throw—to depict a secular trend over the course of 58 years. This is to statistically categorize these into generations, establishing secular contrast by identifying high and low scores for each event within the categorized generations, with the intent to examine the factors embedded within the background. The generations that had the highest average across all four events were the measurements made in 1970–1993 for males and in 1972–1994 for females. Changes made to the curriculum guidelines may have played a role in the differences found within each event. The goal of physical education and its syllabus and assigned hours in the curriculum guidelines are revised approximately every 10 years to meet social demand. Changes in the social and living environments surrounding children may be exhibited in the form of secular contrast in the measured physical fitness and athletic skills.

Keywords: physical fitness; athletic skills; secular contrast in physical fitness; secular trend in physical fitness level; declining fitness level (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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