Faculty of Education - Theses

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Prediction in physical education : the relationship of body build to athletic performance

Davey, Colin Pearce ( 1967)

The purpose of this study was to find a suitable index of body build for secondary schoolboys which was comprehensive, basic, and operational. A further purpose was to discover whether this index of build could be used to guide pupils into activities for which they have the physical aptitude and thus maximize their potential. After a consideration of the reviewed literature and discussion of the best index of body build it was decided to use the formula, I=h3/22 x W where I = Index of body build h = height in inches W = weight in pounds. The subjects used in this investigation were secondary schoolboys who attended a large independent school during the years 1948-1962. Two thousand, three hundred and twenty-eight boys with an average age range from 11.8 to 17.8 years, were measured for six successive years. Included in this number was a special group of five hundred and forty athletes. The study has shown that the index of build may be of value in predicting athletic achievement and could be used to guide pupils into activities for which they possess particular physical attributes.