THE LEVEL COMPARISION OF SOMATIC PARAMETERS AND GENERAL PHYSICAL FITNESS OF BRATISLAVA POLICE ACADEMY MALE STUDENTS

Abstract

The goal of our research was to compare the level of Police Academy students' somatic and motor abilities parameters with the rest of former population. This research was carried out at Police Academy in Bratislava during two academic years (2003/2004 and 2006/2007) on two different groups of male students. Differences between these two school years were created by the new structure of thematic plans (certain changes in physical education subject content and arrangement within week education time table and in easier entrance examinations from 2006/2007 year from the point of physical fitness demands). For the purpose of our monitoring we used two somatic variables (body height and body weight) and selected motor tests from the Eurofit test battery (Plate Tapping, Sit and Reach, Standing Broad Jump, Hand Grip, Sit-ups in 30s, Bent Arm Hang and Shuttle Run 10x5m). Generally we were expecting pretty higher level of future policeman physical fitness comparing with population and slight differences in somatic parameters. Based on the results we can conclude, that body height is near the same like it was at the end of 80-ies and middle of 90-ties in the population. But body weight dramatically increased in both watched groups. Our research showed, that secular positive trends in somatic parameter body height nearly stopped while body weight continues its increase relatively too quickly. The level of general motor performance of the Police Academy students is higher like population in the past. But the differences, which we were expecting, because of professional reasons, are not so high.