Physical Fitness Assessment of First-Year Students for Evidence-based Revision on the Movement Competency Training Sylla

Physical fitness is a determinant for health, wellness, and academic achievement in first-year students as they move from the comparatively active environment of high school to the more sedentary environment of college. The research conducted in this study focused on comparing first-year students' physical fitness concerning health-related fitness and skill-related fitness to analyze how scores on fitness tests differ according to demographic factors such as age, gender, or body type. Using the descriptive-comparative research design, researcher conducted the study among first-year students taking the PATHFit Movement Competency Training course during 2025–2026 in three different schools across the university. Out of 321 eligible students, 228 were selected using stratified random sampling and took part in the research by undergoing a battery of tests measuring their muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, agility, and power. The analysis of data was conducted using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) methods to detect differences in fitness scores between different demographic groups. The results of the research indicated that there are substantial differences in fitness scores by age, gender, and body type. Young students outperformed the elderly ones on muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility tests, while women performed better on the flexibility test. Mesomorphic individuals had greater muscular strength and endurance than individuals with other body types. The findings of the study suggest that physical education programs adapted to first-year students' specific needs should be developed, as they have an important implication for the improvement of the curriculum of the Movement Competency Training course. The authors also emphasize the necessity for incorporating these differences into the process of fitness programs development.