DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL QUALITIES OF STUDENTS OFHIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS BY MEANS OF GYMNASTICS

The article deals with the problem of physical development of students of higher education institutions as one of the priority areas of modern education. It is noted that physical education contributes not only to the improvement of health, but also to the development of basic physical qualities - strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination, agility. Particularattention is paid to the use of gymnastics as an effective method of improving the physical fitness of students. The results of an experimental study, which lasted 12 weeks and included a specially designed programme covering general developmental, drill exercises, gymnastic andacrobatic exercises, exercises on gymnastic apparatus and trampoline jumps, are presented. It has been determined that the systematic use of gymnastics has a positive effect on the physical development of students and improves their physical fitness (p<0.05). As a result of the study, a positive dynamics of the level of physical fitness of higher education students was established. Among the boys, there was a significant improvement in the following tests: flexion-extension of the arms in the hang (an increase of 12.5 times), squats on one leg (5 times),‘angle in the rest’ (2.1 seconds), lifting the body in the sit-up (4.95 times), lifting with a flip (3.35 times), and the development of flexibility (3.2 times). Similarly, among girls, statistically significant improvements were also recorded: flexion-extension of the arms in a lying position (by 5.8 times), squats (by 3.52 times), ‘angle in a lying position’ (by 2.72 s), lifting the body (by 4.81 times), lifting with a flip (by 2.81 times), and flexibility development (by 3.75 s). The analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the initial and repeated results in both boys and girls (p<0.05). It has been established that gymnastics promotes motivation for a healthy lifestyle, development of volitional and communicative qualities, which are important components of the holistic formation of personality. This indicates the effectiveness of the proposed training programme, which had a positive impact on the development of physical qualities of higher education students. The obtained results confirm the expediency of integrating gymnastic means into the system of physical education of students.