Developing A Physical Fitness Index To Evaluate Explosive Power

Abstract

The aim of this study is to develop a Physical Fitness Index (PFI) to ascertain the physical fitness level of the Malaysian Army Reserve Officer Training Unit Cadets. This study uses the standing broad jump test as a physical fitness test battery to develop a Physical Fitness Index and to evaluate the subjects’ leg explosive power. 212 male respondents (N=212) consisting of cadets from the Army Reserve Officer Training Unit of the National Defence University of Malaysia were selected for this study. The standing broad jump test was used as an instrument for this study. The quasi-experimental method is used to measure and evaluate the level of physical fitness and develop a Physical Fitness Index especially pertaining to power. Design of this study is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test where data were obtained through practical test in the field. SPSS software version 20.0 was used to calculate the mean, standard deviation and paired sample t-test in developing the Physical Fitness Index (PFI) and to evaluate the explosive power level of the Army Reserve Officers Training Unit cadets. The findings showed that the mean and standard deviation for the developed Physical Fitness Index is (M=204.01) and (SD=23.197). The Paired-Sample t-test for evaluating the fitness level in power for pre-test and post-test is significantly different (p 0.05). The implication of this study is that the developed standard Physical Fitness Index is able to identify the level of physical fitness amongst the Malaysian Army Reserve Officer Training Unit cadets