Abstract:
Numerous test batteries are available to assess physical fitness, “Eurofit” is the major test
battery which is used in Sri Lanka commonly. Many studies have been done to assess
fitness in different settings, for both sexes at different ages in various countries except Sri
Lanka. Harmonized measures were used as literature due to scarcity of reference values
related to physical status of Sri Lankans. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka has been
using “EURO FITNESS” and “AAHPERD” test batteries to test physical fitness level among
19 - 21 years old teenagers when conducting aptitude test. The follow up of the
requirement of reconstructing norms for aptitude test were guided to develop age and sex
specific normative values for the health and skill related physical fitness among 19-21
years old Sri Lankan youth. 225 males (age 19-21) and 225 females (age 19-21) were
selected as covering whole country. Four tests in EUROFIT (sit & reach, 5x10 shuttle run,
30s’pushups, standing broad jump), one test in AAHPERD (50-yard sprint) and 1000 m run
were considered to develop suitable norms. 5th, 15th, 25th, 35th, 45th, 55th, 65th, 75th, 85th and
95th percentiles were computed for each test. The range of existing norms for 50-yard
sprint, 5x10m shuttle run, sit and reach, push-ups and standing board jump tests were [5.9
- 7.9], [17.4 - 19.9], [(-1) - 29], [4 - 42], [1.79 - 2.78] and the range of newly constructed
norms are [5.99 - 7.45], [15.81 - 18.99], [(-1) - 20], [17 - 38] and [1.95 - 2.65], respectively
for males. The range of existing norms for female were [6.8 – 9.5], [19.2 - 21.9], [(-1) – 35],
[1 – 23], [4.0 - 10.8], [1.52 – 2.18] and the range of newly constructed norms are [6.66 -
8.50], [16.75 - 20.60], [2 – 23], [8 – 25], [3.25 - 7.29] and [1.56 - 2.14], respectively. The
range of newly constructed norms for 1000 m run are [2.70 - 5.87] and [3.25 - 7.29] for
men and women correspondingly. Further studies are essential to enhance the reliability
and validity of the newly constructed norms.
