Abstract:
The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the American
Association for Health Physical Education and Recreation (AAPHER) youth fitness
test scores of adolescent boys in Northern and Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.
Adolescent boys of 14 years of age from North (n=400) and East (n=400) were
randomly selected. AAPHER youth fitness test which included a 50 yard dash for
speed, Standing broad jump for explosive power, 1.5 miles run for endurance, sit ups for abdominal strength, shuttle run for agility and pull-ups for arm strength were
used. Cumulative score for the test battery was calculated for each participant.
Results show that the scores were mostly below 50th percentile in all fitness qualities
assessed. It was concluded that the adolescent boys of Northern and Eastern
provinces of Sri Lanka have poor physical fitness. Special fitness programs should
be designed and implemented to improve the fitness of adolescent with poor fitness.
National level common fitness norms should be constructed and standardized for
fitness assessment.
