Determination Suitability in Comparing Selected Physical Fitness Components among Young Athletes between Age Groups and Gender during Talent Identification Process in Malaysia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the suitability of grouping ages in comparing the physical fitness performance among 13- to 17-year-old male and female athletic athletes during the talent identification process. A total of 178 males [mean (±SD) age 14.3 (±1.2) years; weight 55.7 (±11.8) kg; and height 166.0 (±6.8) cm] and 214 females [mean (±SD) age 14.5 (±1.3) years; weight 49.5 (±10.4) kg; and height 157.2 (±5.9) cm] young healthy athletic athletes from 12 different States’ Sports School across Malaysia participated in this study. Subjects performed seven selected fitness testing; 40 m sprint, vertical jump, standing broad jump, medicine ball throw, max push-up, 1 min sit-up, and yo-yo endurance level 1 test. Statistical analyses used were a one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc tests, with p < 0.05 denoting significance. No significant differences were found in all fitness components, except explosive power for male athletic athletes aged 13 and 14 years and female athletic athletes aged 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 years. No significant differences were also found between 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old male athletic athletes in all fitness component variables. However, there is a significant difference between the lower and upper tiers of age groups in various fitness components. Combination of data between ages into one group between ages (13- and 14-year-olds), (15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds), and (14- and 15-year-olds) for future data analysis regarding physical fitness component can be done. Muscular endurance component is robust and not influenced by age group differences. These differences may be caused by differences in physical fitness maturity rate in which female athletes mature at an early age compared to male athletes.