Original scientific paper

Martin Georgievski¹ , Nena Gontareva² , Mitricka Dzambazovska Stardelov³, Slavica Novacevska³ , Jana Karsakovska Dimitrioska³

https://doi.org/10.46733/PESH2514103g

Abstract

Regular physical activity is recognized as a key determinant of optimal growth and development in children, with organized sport playing a particularly critical role in enhancing physical fitness. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the average daily time spent in organized sport activities and various components of physical fitness in children aged 9 to 11. The study involved 415 students (205 boys and 210 girls) from the second educational stage. Seventeen variables were assessed: four anthropometric measures, two body composition indicators, nine motor fitness tests, and two indicators of sport participation. Average daily sport time was calculated by multiplying the number of weekly training sessions by their duration, divided by the number of days in a week. Partial Pearson correlation analysis, controlling for age, revealed significant positive associations between greater daily sport involvement and higher muscle mass (r = 0.169, p = 0.001), handgrip strength (r = 0.148, p = 0.003), explosive strength (r = 0.174, p < 0.001), abdominal endurance (r = 0.278, p < 0.001), VO₂max (r = 0.319, p < 0.001), and agility (r = -0.221, p < 0.001), as well as bip-test performance. These associations were more pronounced in boys but also significant among girls. No significant correlation was found with body mass index (BMI), although a clear relationship emerged with muscle mass percentage. These findings underscore the crucial role of organized sport in supporting children’s physical development and highlight the importance of promoting sport participation, particularly among less active children and girls, as a strategy for improving health outcomes in childhood.

Keywords: child physical activity, sport participation, physical fitness

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