Abstract:
Physical fitness is a basic component of total fitness which includes efficiencies, mental
and emotional stability and social adaptability. Physical fitness is a positive quality found
in people’s age. In a society different strata and groups of people such as young,
old, rich and poor; the most important and significant proxy of a society is the youth
generation. The AAHPER youth fitness test was devised by American alliance for health,
education, and recreation in America. They always concerned with ways to improve the
physical fitness. The purpose of this study was to identify suitability of AAHPER youth
fitness test to measure fitness of youth aged 10-17 in Sri Lanka. The field based
experimental research method was applied to conduct the research with the participation
of 1000 girls and boys selected using random sampling method. The study area was
throughout the Sri Lanka from various provinces. The data was collected using the
AAHPER test batteries which consist with six test items 50 yard run to measure speed,
standing broad jump to measure explosive power, shuttle run to measure agility, pull-up
for boys and flex arm hang for girls to measure to arm strength, sit up to measure
abdominal strength and 600 yard run to measure endurance respectively. Data was
analyzed by using SPSS. According to data analysis, following percentile norms were
created 5th 10th 15th 20th 25th 30th 35th 40th 45th 50th 55th 60th 65th 70th 75th 80th 85th 90th
95th 100th. When compared to AAHPER test norms, newly assessed norms’ value are more
and less. Then using this fitness test can identify the strengths and weaknesses of Sri
Lankan youth aged 10-17. This test is suitable for Sri Lankan youth aged 10-17 as a tool to
measure their fitness. Further studies are essential to enhance the reliability and validate
of the test battery.
