Relations between Somatic Characteristics and Motor Efficiency (low and High) in School-aged Individuals

Somatic characteristics (various absolute sizes, related values and body composition) are one of the preconditions for motor efficiency. In particular, it determines the level of motor efficiency in schoolaged individuals for activities mandating strength and speed requirements (Sukop, 1997). Since the 1930’s, specialists have been devoted to investigating the relation between somatic characteristics (especially body height and weight) and motor efficiency. Their findings allowed some researchers to elaborate motor efficiency evaluating norms based on the sex, age, body height and weight (Mydlarski, 1934; McCloy & Young, 1954; Trzesniowski, 1961, 1963; AAHPER, 1965; etc.) or the sex, age, and body height (Oehmisch, 1956) indicators. In the Czech Republic, Pávek (1980) developed norms of motor efficiency indicators that are equal to various figure types derived from the weight-height index (body weight/body height). He considered these norms to be the most efficient while testing pubescent individuals and also, quite useful for testing younger children and adolescents. In the 1970’s, Fleishman (1964) and other authors stopped using these norms due to their heterogeneity in relations between somatic characteristics and single motor efficiency test results. A compromise was published by Moravec et al. (1996) and Měkota, Kovář et al. (1995), suggesting an amendment to evaluating individual motor efficiency only for individuals with extreme values of body height and weight. Since the 1970’s, considerable research on the relation between somatic characteristics and motor performance of Czech children and youth has been carried out (e.g., Štěpnička et al., 1976, 1987; Pávek, 1977; Riegerová, 1984; Chytráčková, 1996; Moravec et al., 1990; Měkota, Kovář et al., 1995; etc.). According to their published findings, we can see that somatic characteristics (especially at the pubescent age) are correlate to some extent with motor test efficiency, particularly in physical condition tests. Kovář et al. (1994), Moravec et al. (1996) and other authors state that the amount of subcutaneous fat is an important characteristic because it seems to be a highly negative limiting factor culminating in low motor efficiency. Upon careful analysis of several publications, it is apparent that the hitherto established relations between the somatic characteristics and motor efficiency in school-aged children are not unambiguous and that the calculated extent of correlation coefficients is quite high. A comparison of these findings is complicated owing to the problematic assessment of the significance of calculated correlation coefficients. A calculated statistically significant difference does not necessarily relate to any logically significant difference, which is particularly valid for larger samples. The aim of the study is to determine the relations between selected somatic characteristics and motor efficiency in school-aged boys and girls (8–9 and 12–13 RELATIONS BETWEEN SOMATIC CHARACTERISTICS AND MOTOR EFFICIENCY (LOW AND HIGH) IN SCHOOL-AGED INDIVIDUALS