DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS IN MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MOTOR SKILLS

The main goal of this research is to determine whether there is a difference between boys and girls in morphological characteristics and motor skills. The sample consisted of 59 third-grade elementary school students from Sombor, aged 9.5 years (± 3 months). There were 28 boys and 31 girls tested. A set of 13 motor tests was used to assess their motor skills: 2 to assess coordination, 1 to assess explosive leg strength, 1 to assess explosive arm strength, 1 to assess endurance in muscle strength, 1 to assess repetitive strength, 2 to assess flexibility, 2 to assess movement frequency speed, 2 to assess accuracy and 1 to assess durability. In the morphological space there were two anthropometric measures that were measured: body mass and body height. Gender differences in all variables were examined with an independent sample t-test. A statistically significant difference in favor of boys was observed only in the test that evaluates the explosive power of legs – long jump t(59) = 3.09, with significance p = 0.003. In the motor tests that assess explosive arm strength, precision, coordination, repetitive strength, and movement frequency speed (Hand taping) there are no statistically significant differences, although there are nominally better results in favor of boys, while in the flexibility parameters and one movement frequency speed parameter (Leg taping) the difference is in favor of girls. Given that students have similar morphological characteristics and motor skills, it is justified that the teaching process of physical and health education in the third grade of elementary school is implemented with both genders simultaneously, without different approaches.