THE RELATIONS BETWEEN MECHANISMS OF THE REGULATION OF MOVEMENT AND THE COGNITIVE ABILITIES OF HANDBALL PLAYERS OF VARIOUS RANKS OF COMPETITION

Abstract On a sample of 180 handball players divided into 3 subsamples number 60 participants each, who belong to the I, II and republic handball league of Serbia,a system of 9 variables (6 motor and 3 cognitive) was applied with the aim of determining the statistically significant relations between the system of variables of motor and cognitive variables. The data were processed using a canonical correlation analysis. Using Bartlett’s Chi-square test for handball players of various ranks of competition we tested the statistical significance of the coefficients of the canonical correlation which explains the linear combinations between the groups of variables, that is, the connection between two systems of variables. By solving the characteristic equations of the cross-correlation matrix we obtained, as the roots of these equations, the coefficients of the determination of the canonical correlation for I league handball players (Rc2=.23, Rc2=.10, Rc2=.08), for II league handball players (Rc2=.24) and national level handball players (Rc2=.23). By analyzing the obtained canonical factors of both groups of variables we may say that the cognitive mechanisms have a certain significance for achieving success in handball, at the level of concrete, individual and isolated motor and cognitive abilities, and thus of the greatest importance for handball in general, irrespective of the level of the competition and level of success. A further more detailed study of the connection between the effectiveness of the parallel processor which is responsible for the visual spatialization and the factor of the structuring of movement is needed. Key words: handball, intelligence, motor skills

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MOTOR SKILLS OF CHILDREN AGED 7 TO 11

A sample of 655 participants (348 boys and 307 girls), schoolchildren aged 7 to 11, was included in a study of a system of 10 variables (4 morphological and 6 motor variables), with the aim of applying a multivariate analysis of variance and a canonical discriminant analysis to determine the statistical significance of the differences in the means between the genders in terms of morphological characteristics and motor skills. The obtained results indicated a statistically significant difference between the genders in the entire system of applied variables, at the p=.00 level, an univariately, that the boys, probably as a result of increased body weight (p=.01) and forearm volume (p=.00), had better results in motor skills as well, including explosive strength (the standing long jump, p=.00), body coordination (the polygon backwards, p=.00), repetitive strength (sit-ups, p=.00) and force (hyperextensions, p=.00), while the girls had better values only for flexibility (deep pull-up hang on the bench, p=.00). By using a canonical discriminant analysis, we isolated a single discriminant function (p=.00) whose structure is made up of seven variables, six of which belong to the boys, and only one of which (deep pull-up hang on the bench) belongs to the girls. In accordance with the obtained values, it is necessary to consider the development (extensive changes) in the morphological characteristics and motor skills of both boys and girls equally in physical education classes. These changes are ones which are not genetically limited, that is, ones which are still susceptible to change, so as to be able to perform optimum planning and programming and the operationalization of physical education classes based on the obtained indicators, as well as the control of the ontogenetic development of these relevant anthropological characteristics, under the influence of the programmed contents according to gender at this age

DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MOTOR ABILITIES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL GIRLS

This study was conducted on a sample of 710 secondary school girls from I to the IV grade, divided into four sub-samples according to the chronological age, meaning 180 schoolgirls of the first grade, 177 of the second grade, 177 of the third grade and 176 of the fourth grade. The aim of the study was to determine differences in the development trend of motor abilities for students from 14 to 18 years of age. Testing of motor abilities was done during regular physical education classes with 11 tests of motor skills that assessed speed, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination. Characteristics of variables and sample size allowed application of multivariate statistical methods for data processing, factor and canonical discriminant analysis. The results showed uneven growth of some abilities in this age period, and that is until 16 years of age in a test of balance (MSUK) and a test of coordination (MS3M). Students achieved the best results at the age of 15 for all other tests of motor abilities, and after that they halt or slightly decline. The largest decline of the results is in the balance test (MSUK) and static strength test (MVIS), a somewhat lesser decline was in the flexibility test (MDPK), and that is probably because of decreased activity of the female population in this age group (trend recorded in several studies), and it is known that the flexibility is developed and maintained exclusively by exercise. This is supported by Farfelj’s findings (1972) that proved that in active population (competitive athletes) there is no such decline in these abilities. An explanation of these results may be in students’ generally reduced level of physical activity, inadequate effects of physical education classes and insufficient engagement of society in general to solve these problems