Influences of Rope Skipping Performance in Children
Date
1996-05
Authors
Barrett, Dave
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Abstract
There has been little research that has examined the intensity of rope skipping in children during the Jump Rope for Heart event. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between rope skipping rate, heart rate, and fitness test performance in children during the JRFH's jumpathon event, in order to identify the physical fitness profile of children during rope skipping. This study also examined the differences in rope skipping performance between boys and girls. In addition, this study examined the relationship between self palpated exercise heart rate estimates and the actual heart rates measured via a telemetry system in children. A total of 21 fourth grade subjects (13 boys and 8 girls) and 19 fifth grade subjects (9 boys and 10 girls) volunteered and completed this study. The FitnessGram health-related test battery was given to each subject prior to the three week rope skipping training unit as described by the Jump Rope for Heart (JRFH) training manual. For the rope skipping test, the subjects were told to skip rope at their own pace using the basic jump for at
least one minute, similar to the requirements for the JRFH event. At any time the subjects could rest while they were being tested. The total amount of skipping time and rest time was kept track of during the testing period. The heart rate was checked at the end of the test using a telemetry system (Polar USA, Inc. Stamford, CT), which was at least one minute in length. The subjects were also asked to give a palpated heart rate for 10 seconds. This palpated heart rate was completed immediately after the completion of the rope skipping test. A linear relationship between PACER scores and BMI scores was observed (r = .44). One-sample t-tests revealed that subjects skipped rope at 84.05 percent of their maximum heart rate, which is within the American College of Sports Medicine (1991) training guidelines of 55 to 90 percent maximum heart rate. A MANOV A revealed the following gender differences; PACER scores (boys = 37.71 ± 12.88 laps and girls= 25.89 ± 12.43 laps), push-ups (boys= 16.29 ± 7.27 and girls= 9.00 ± 6.25), and rest time (boys= 10.38 ± 10.52 seconds and girls 21.26 ± 14.90 seconds). A linear relationship (r = .67, SEE= 13.93 beats/minute) was found between actual heart rate and self-palpated heart rate estimate. This relationship was stronger in boys (r = .73) than girls (r = 58). Physical educators need this information for physical fitness curriculum programming in order to correctly train students in rope skipping. The results are beneficial to the American Heart Association and it's JRFH program because this will help in the publishing of proper training manuals and correct guidelines for the JRFH jumpathon event.
Description
Keywords
roper skipping, heart beat, physical fitness for children
Citation
Barrett, D. (1996). Influences of rope skipping performance in children (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.