Tracking of physical fitness components in boys and girls from the second to sixth grades

The purpose of this study was to examine the tracking of field-assessed fit ness components in boys and girls from the second to sixth grades. A total of 857 children (448 boys and 409 girls) from 11 urban schools were tested in grade 2; 565 children (297 boys and 268 girls) were tested again in grad e 6. Only subjects who had completed all fitness tests on the two occasions were included in the analysis (n = 319: 203 boys and 11.6 girls). Fitness tests included a 600-m run, a flying-start sprint, the: standing long jump, and a medicine ball throw. Additionally, subjects performed a skill task t hat involved slalom dribbling of a basketball. Baseline scores in grade 2 w ere correlated (Spearman Rank Order) with scores attained in grade 6. Boys had significantly (P < 0.05) better scores in all fitness tests compared wi th girls in both grades. Tracking of fitness components over the 4-year per iod in both sexes varied between 0.36 and 0.66. Tracking was consistently l ower in girls than in boys, perhaps reflecting their earlier maturation. Am . J. Hum. Biol. 13:65-70, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.