Assessment of Physical Coordination and Speed Development in Girls during Puberty
Assessment of Physical Coordination and Speed Development in Girls during Puberty

Summary/Abstract: Speed and balance are interconnected and crucial in a child's daily activities. While both develop over time, balance improves steadily with age, whereas speed increases at a slower rate. This study assessed the static balance and sprint ability of school-going girls to examine age-related changes in these attributes. Hundred girls (N=100) aged 8–12 from rural Jashore, Bangladesh, participated, with 20 girls (n=20) in each age group. Static balance was evaluated by having participants place their hands on their hips and their non-supporting foot against the inner knee, with timing starting at heel lift and stopping upon form break. Sprint speed was assessed at 10m and 50m distances. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, LSD post hoc tests, and correlation analysis were conducted, with significance set at p <0.05. One-way ANOVA revealed significant age-related differences in static balance and 10m sprint times, F(4, 95) = 3.069, p = 0.009, and F(4, 95) = 6.833, p = 0.001, respectively, but not for the 50m sprint. LSD post hoc tests indicated that younger children (8–9 years) performed worse than older ones (10–12 years) in static balance and 10m sprint, while no significant differences were found among older groups. Static balance showed a negative correlation with 10m sprint (p < 0.01), whereas the 10m sprint had a weak positive correlation with the 50m sprint (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that while age significantly impacts balance and short-distance speed, it does not influence longer sprint performance.

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