The Seventh and Eighth Grade Primary School Students’ Physical Fitness and Results on the Gymnastics Polygon

The purpose of the study was to determine the connection between physical fitness and the results on the gymnastics polygon in the seventh and eighth grade elementary school students. Additionally, it was necessary to determine the differences in the observed variables in relation to the grade, separately for each gender. Materials and methods. A total of 128 students from three elementary schools (64 male and 64 female students), 13 and 14 years old, participated in the testing. Five physical fitness tests were used (modified agility "T" test (MAT), Illinois agility run test, 10x5 shuttle run test, standing balance test and 2-minute step in place test), and a specially designed gymnastics polygon was used to assess the level of adoption of technical elements from artistic gymnastics. Results. A statistically significant correlation was recorded between all observed parameters with different levels, from moderate to strong correlations, both in relation to the grade, as well as in relation to the gender of the students. It was also determined that in boys, there are differences in only one test (MAT) in favor of the eighth graders, while in girls, there was a difference in three tests (MAT; 10x5 shuttle test; 2-minute step in place test) in favor of the eighth graders. Conclusions. So it can be concluded that there is a strong mutual connection between physical fitness and sports-specific skills, which are presented in this paper by means of the technical elements of artistic gymnastics.