Circuit Training during Physical Education Classes to Prepare Cadets for Military Academies Tests: Analysis of an Educational Project

Pietro Luigi Invernizzi, Gabriele Signorini, Maurizio Pizzoli, Giampietro Alberti, Damiano Formenti and Andrea Bosio
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Pietro Luigi Invernizzi: The Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
Gabriele Signorini: The Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
Maurizio Pizzoli: Teulié Military School, 20122 Milan, Italy
Giampietro Alberti: The Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
Damiano Formenti: The Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
Andrea Bosio: Human Performance Laboratory, Mapei Sport, 21057 Varese, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Background: The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of an eight-week physical education program based on circuit training to better improve the overall physical and military-specific performance compared to a conventional physical education program in military high school students. Methods: Sixty-four students were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to an experimental (EG, circuit training) or a control group (CG, traditional physical education program). Immediately before and after the eight-week training period, participants were tested on strength and endurance performance, circuit training tests, and military tests. Moreover, the acquisition of the educational objectives and the pleasantness of the experimental intervention were tested using a qualitative approach. Results: Despite the higher workload in EG than CG during the training period, the effect of the experimental intervention compared to the control was only possibly to likely positive for a few strength and endurance performances and circuit training tests, respectively. A trivial effect was shown in the military tests. On the contrary, the high percentage of motivation (76%), understanding (78%) and collaboration (86%) showed by the students suggests the achievement of acquisition of the educational objectives and a fair pleasantness of the lessons. Conclusions: A lack of clear and marked effect of the experimental intervention could be ascribed to an insufficient exposure time to the training and a high subjective overall workload encountered in military high school students.

Keywords: high school; research-action; program for competences; quantitative and qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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