John R. Puckett

EFFECTS OF THREE COMBINATIONS OF PLYOMETRIC AND WEIGHT TRAINING PROGRAMS ON SELECTED PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST ITEMS

To determine the effects of prescribed training programs on 5 physical fitness test items, each of 50 high school boys participated for 10 wk. in one of three programs (wrestling, softball, and plyometrics; weight training; and weight training and plyometrics). (a) On the sit-ups, 40-yd. dash, vertical jump, and pull-ups, each group improved significantly from pre-to posttest, (b) On the shuttle run, none of the groups improved significantly from pre- to posttest, (c) On the vertical jump, groups had a significant effect, but the interaction was nonsignificant. No effects were significant.

Effects of selected physical activities on health-related fitness and psychological well-being.

To determine the effects of participation in selected physical activities on scores of self-concept, body-cathexis and four items of health-related fitness, 88 women in university physical education service classes participated 3 hr. per week for 8 wk. in one of five activities (aerobic dance, jogging for fitness, swimming for fitness, life saving, and weight training). A total of 108 subjects participated in the study, with 20 students in health science classes serving as the controls. Few differences were noted between the activity groups and the controls on the posttest with pretest scores controlled. Specifically, loggers and aerobic dancers performed significantly more situps than did the controls, and joggers, aerobic dancers, weight trainers, and those in the lifesaving group displayed significantly greater flexibility on the sit and reach test than did the controls on the posttest. None of the activity groups differed from the controls regarding self-esteem, body cathexis, body fat, or the step test scores at posttest.

Effects of Selected Physical Activities on Global Self-Concept and Body-Cathexis Scores

To measure the effects of participation in selected physical activities on scores of global self-concept and body-cathexis, 78 men in university physical education service classes participated 3 hours per week for 8 wk. in one of three activities: strength development, body building, or jogging for fitness. The total number of subjects was 113, with the additional 35 men serving as controls. For body-cathexis scores, significant differences were found in favor of the body-building and jogging groups as compared to those of the strength-development and control groups. On global self-concept scores, the body-building and jogging groups showed an increase on immediate retest, while the strength-development and control groups showed little change.

The physiologic effects of eight weeks of aerobic dance with and without hand-held weights:

There are few reports concerning the physiologic alter ations that occur following a specified period of aerobic dance. Further, no data exist to describe the physio logic changes or potential risk associated with using hand-held weights during aerobic dance. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and body composition follow ing 8 weeks of aerobic dance using hand-held weights (Heavyhands, AMF, Jefferson, lA). Twenty-eight college females volunteered for the study. All subjects were given a preoxygen and postoxygen uptake (VO2 max) treadmill test. Body composition was measured by taking the sum of five skinfold sites and determining the percent change following training. Subjects were randomly assigned to a hand-held weight or nonhand held weight group. No significant differences (P < 0.05) existed between groups for VO2 max and body com position after 8 weeks of traini ng. However, a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in VO2 max was found within the hand-held weight (37.7 to 42.6) and in the nonhand held weight group (36.5 to 41.9). Complaints from subjects included transient aches and pains in the shoulder area during the first 3 weeks as a result of hand-held weight use. These findings suggest that hand-held weights may be used safely but do not increase the work load sufficiently above that of aerobic dance alone to significantly modify VO2 max or body composition.

COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF PRESCRIBED WEIGHT-TRAINING AND BASKETBALL PROGRAMS ON BASKETBALL SKILL TEST SCORES OF NINTH GRADE BOYS

To compare the effects of prescribed weight-training and basketball programs on scores of four test items of the AAHPER basketball skill test for boys, pretests and posttests were administered to three groups of ninth grade boys, 26 in Group I—basketball, 17 in Group II—weight-training, and 15 in Group III—control group. No significant differences were found among groups on the front shot, speed pass, jump and reach, or dribble; and no trend was visible in the ranked order of means on the dependent measures.

Self-Concept Scores and Participation in Recreation-League Team Sports.

The Piers-Harris Childrens Self-concept Scale was administered to 224 third and fourth grade boys, before and after 5 wk. of participation or nonparticipation in recreation-league team sports. Pretest scores indicated significant differences in favor of participants, while posttest scores showed no significant differences as a result of the treatment.

EFFECTS OF PRESCRIBED WEIGHT-TRAINING AND BASKETBALL PROGRAMS ON SELECTED BASKETBALL SKILL TEST SCORES

To determine the effects of prescribed weight-training exercises and a prescribed basketball program on scores of four AAHPER basketball skill tests each of 76 seventh grade students at a junior high school participated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 16 class periods in one of three programs (weight-training, basketball, and regular physical education), (a) On the front shot, a significant difference was found between the basketball group and the weight-training group, in favor of the former, (b) No other significant differences were found among the three groups on the other skill tests, speed pass, jump and reach, and dribble.