An assessment of health related physical fitness levels of male residential and non- residential students of senior high school in Sunyani municipality

Abstract

This study assessed the health-related physical fitness level of male residential and non residential students from Sunyani from Senior High School in Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana. The Quasi experimental design was used for the study. One hundred male participants (50 each) from residential and non-residential were selected using stratified random sampling technique. The prudential fitnessgram consists of health-related components (muscular endurance, muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, body composition and flexibility as instrument for data collection. The instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.76. Three research questions were answered. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The result of findings showed that male non-residential students were poor in muscular endurance, muscular strength, body composition, than their male residential counterpart, while subsequently better in cardiovascular endurance and flexibility than the male residential. The findings indicated that, the male residential students have a better mean in four health-related physical fitness level with exception of flexibility than the male non-residential. The result also showed that male residential students were able to meet the health-related standard in three components than the male non-residential students, who were able to meet two components from the five components measured. it is advisable to formulate a regular physical training schedule, to achieve/meet the whole health-related standards. It was recommended that curricular planners in Ghana Education Service should include health-related fitness in the curriculum of pupils during physical education classes.