DIFFERENCES IN STRENGTH AND SPEED TESTS AMONG STUDENTS FROM 5TH TO 8TH GRADE

The aim of the research is to determine the differences in certain strength and speed tests among students from the 5th to 8th grade. The sample consisted of four age groups of students (n=60) from the "Vuk Karadžić" primary school in Sočanica. The sample of variables for strength testing included: Standing long jump (MSUD); Vertical jump (MVJ); Throwing a 1 kg medicine ball from a supine position (MBML); Push-ups to failure (MSKL); Sit-ups to failure (MPT); Squats to failure (MCUC); and Dominant hand grip strength (MDIN). The sample of variables for speed testing included: Hand tapping (MTR); Foot tapping (MTN); 20 m sprint from a standing start (MT20); 30 m sprint from a standing start (MT30); and 50 m sprint from a standing start (MT50). All statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics software (Version 25). The data obtained from the tests were processed using descriptive analysis, normality tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). To further determine the differences between the analyzed age categories, Bonferroni post hoc analysis was applied. No statistically significant difference was found in the test for throwing a 1 kg medicine ball from a supine position (MBML, p > 0.05), while statistically significant differences were found in all other strength tests (MSUD, MVJ, MSKL, MPT, MCUC, and MDIN, p < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were also found in all speed tests (MTR, MTN, MT20, MT30, and MT50, p < 0.05) among students from the 5th to 8th grade.