Abstract. This study was designed to test validity and reliability of Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) for sports high school students. The research conducted with 357 volunteered girls (n=117) and boys (n=240). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that Chi square (χ2), degrees of freedom (df) and χ2/df ratio were 1102.90, 341 and 3.234, respectively. Goodness of Fit Index, Comparative Fit Index, Non-normed Fit Index and Incremental Fit Index were between 0.92-0.95. Additionally, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index, An Average Errors Square Root and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation were 0.88, 0.070 and 0.079, respectively. Subscale reliability coefficients were between 0.77 and 0.86. Test-retest correlations of AMS were found between 0.79 and 0.91. Results showed that scale was suitable for determination of sports high school students' academicals motivation levels.

Abstract. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of relative age on anthropometric properties and motor performance in Turkish children (girls n=423, boys n=601). Anthropometric measurement sites and techniques have been set out by the ISAK (International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry). A group of tests involved in Eurofit Test Battery and other standard tests were used. For each age, the data of those who were born within the first three months and the last three months of the year were compared. The MedCalc Statistics Program was used for the differentiation and variation percentages between two periods were studied (p≤ 0.001, p= 0.05). Consequently effect of relative age was observed on anthropometric characteristics and motor performances of Turkish girls and boys between 8 and 12 years old. Researchers, trainers, families, sports managers and organizers are advised to consider Effect of Relative Age.

Objectives: In order to examine the changes in physical characteristics and motor abilities of Turkish children aged 11 or 12 years old, data collected in three different periods (1983 to 1985, 1999 to 2003 and the year 2013) were compared in the present study. Material and Methods: Data for girls (age 11, n=187; age 12, n=181) and boys (age 11, n=435; age 12, n=392) were obtained from Eurofit tests applied between the years 1983 and 1985 in four different cities; between the years 1999 and 2003 in İzmir, and recently in 2013 in İstanbul. Differences concerning similar parameters for the three different periods were compared. The MedCalc statistical program was used for this purpose and t-tests were applied for data comparison. Results: Data analysis yielded mean increases of 10% for body weight and body mass index (BMI), 40-115% and 55-150% for local skinfold thicknesses in girls and boys, respectively (p<0.05); and decreases of 20-25% in jumping, sprinting abilities, and handgrip strength (p<0.05), as the year 2013 was reached. Conclusions: In the time course of the given thirty years, in children of both genders, aged 11-12, significant increases in subcutaneous fat tissue, body weight and BMI scores; and significant decreases in hand grip strength, jumping power and speed abilities were determined.Key Words: Physical fitness, Eurofit test battery, physical characteristics, children ÖZ Amaç: Bu çalışma, 11-12 yaş Türk çocuklarının otuz yıllık dönem içinde; fiziksel özellikleri ve motor yetilerinde ortaya çıkan değişimleri incelemek amacıyla gerçekleştirildi. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Araştırmaya 11 yaş (n=187) ve 12 yaş (n=181) kızlarla, 11 yaş (n=435) ve 12 yaş (n=392) erkek çocuklar alındı. Veriler, 1983-1985 yılları arasında İzmir, Aydın, Manisa ve Denizli'de; 1999-2003 yılları arasında İzmir'de ve son olarak 2013 yılında İstanbul'da yetenek taramasında gerçekleştirilen Eurofit testlerine ilişkin ölçümler aracılığı ile elde edildi. Üç döneme ait veriler karşılaştırılarak farklılaşmaya ve değişim oranlarına bakıldı. Verilerin istatistiksel analizi için MedCalc istatistik programı kullanılarak t-testi uygulandı. Bulgular: Araştırma verilerinin analizi sonucunda; vücut ağırlığı ve vücut kütle indeksi (VKİ) değerlerinin ortalama %10 düzeyinde, deri altı yağ kalınlıklarının kızlarda %40-115, erkeklerde %55-150 arasında yükseldiği; sıçrama ve güç yetenekleri ile el kavrama kuvvetlerinin %20-25 azaldığı saptandı ve bu değişimler istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulundu (p<0.05).

This study was performed to determine academic motivation levels of sports high school students in Turkey. 1239 students (365 girls; 874 boys) who has mean age 16,11 ±1,11 years and who are from sports high schools in Izmir, Bursa, Manisa, Antalya, Denizli, Malatya, Bitlis, and Aydin were included in this study. Data of this study was collected by Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) which was designed to test validity and reliability of for sports high school students in Turkiye. Factorial ANOVA results revealed two main outcomes: 1) Extrinsic Motivation level is higher than Intrinsic Motivation level for this age category, and 2) Both Extrinsic Motivation level and Intrinsic Motivation level of girls are higher than those of boys. Higher Extrinsic Motivation level than Intrinsic Motivation level shows that sports high school students in Turkey are more dependent to their families and less autonomous.

In order to monitor training effects and physical developments in elite sports, it may be beneficial to perform anthropometric measurements and physical fitness tests regularly. In this study, the relationship between the anthropometric properties and physical fitness values of elite figure skating athletes were investigated. 21 elite athletes in the 11-16 age group, female (n=12) and male (n=9), participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements were taken in accordance with The International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol. Σ6 and Σ8 skinfold thickness, body fat ratio (BF%), body mass index (BMI), Manouvrier Index (MI), waist/hip ratio and somatotype components in girls Group II, III and in boys Group II were calculated. Also, balance, flexibility, handgrip strength, vertical jump, agility, medicine ball overhead back throw, speed, and endurance tests were applied to all groups. Descriptive statistical analyzes were made using the IBM SPSS 25.0 statistics program. The relationship between variables was calculated by the Pearson Correlation coefficient. The significance level was taken as p<0.01 and p<0.05. In boys, body weight, body height and arm span, sitting height, BMI, humerus breadth and foot length were observed to be associated with all physical fitness parameters (p<0.01, p<0.05), except balance and agility; Girth measurements were related to handgrip strength, vertical jump, overhead medicine ball backward throw, speed and endurance (p<0.01, p<0.05). Negative relationships of the endomorphic feature with flexibility and endurance were determined (p<0.05). In girls, it was found that body weight, body height, and arm span, sitting height and BMI were related to flexibility, handgrip strength, medicine ball overhead back throw (p<0.01, p<0.05); girth measurements were found to be related to flexibility, handgrip strength, vertical jump, overhead medicine ball back throw (p<0.01, p<0.05); also, significant correlations (p<0.01, p<0.05) were found between the handgrip strength and breadth measurements. Assessment of the relationship between morphological features and motor skills with specific field tests and standardized tests performed at regular intervals in athletes can contribute to the athletes' selection and training planning of the relevant federations and orientating towards their goals.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0629/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>