The aim: Is to investigate the level and dynamics of students’ physical health in the process of sports and health tourism engagement. Materials and methods: The research involved the students (men) of Sumy State University (n = 60). The research was conducted in 2018-2020. The comparative analysis of indicators of physical development, functional status and health of the students who were engaged in sports and health tourism (sports section of the Department of Physical Education, n = 30) in the process of their physical education, and the students who attended traditional physical education classes (main section, n = 30) was carried out. The level of the students’ health was assessed according to the methods by H. L. Apanasenko and V. P. Voitenko. Results: It was found that most indicators of physical development, functional status and state of health are significantly better at the end of the research in the students who were engaged in sports and health tourism during their education than in the students who were engaged in traditional physical education classes. The largest increases are in the indicators of body weight, circumferential size of the chest and the waist, heart rate, vital, strength indices, Robinson’s index, duration of heart rate recovery after standard exercise, duration of breath-holding at inspiration and expiration, level of physical health. Conclusions: The high level of physical development, functional status and the state of students’ health formed in the process of sports and health tourism will ensure the effectiveness of their learning in higher educational institutions owing to improving their mental and physical performance, as well as help to improve indicators of their lifesustaining and future professional activities.

The article analyzes the current state of the educational system of physical education in institutions of higher education. Revealed, the importance of the implementation of the variable component of basketball as a means in the physical education of students. At present, the role of physical culture and sports as a factor in the improvement of a person and society is significantly increasing. It has been established that in conditions when rapid changes are taking place in all spheres of life of Ukrainian society, the problem of physical education of children and youth, education in the spirit of a responsible attitude to their own health and the health of others as to the highest social value and individualization, is actualized. If earlier the goal of physical education was the formation of a physically perfect person, ready for work and defense, today its health-improving orientation is a priority, since a healthy person is the basis of a healthy nation. It is proved that basketball is one of the main means of development of basic motor qualities and intellectual abilities, improvement of anthropometric indicators, increase of working capacity in a wide age range. Radical changes in the life of our support have brought about great changes in the light and ideology, in the culture and education. In the minds of the recent reforms in the sphere of education, it is especially important to develop nutrition for the improvement of the physical and spiritual health of young people, the formation of a healthy way of living, the implementation of individuality, which is a criterion of social

The article states that physical activity has a positive effect on both mental and physical health and is an important, fundamental factor in the formation, maintenance and strengthening. The importance of optimizing the motor activity of students with the use of sports games in the educational process is determined. The necessity of increasing motivation for physical education classes with the help of sports games is substantiated. It is established that motor activity affects a person's social function, in particular, the adaptation to changes in their role in society in old age, provides an opportunity to play a more active role in society. It was found that volleyball and basketball are the most popular sports among modern youth. Motor activity is important in human life, because in the process of evolution it was formed as a biological human need along with the needs for food, water, self-preservation, and so on. It is known that during exercise in the human body certain mechanisms are triggered, as a result of which the functions of not only the muscular system, but also the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems are strengthened. Despite the fact that today, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle is actively developing, the influence of regular exercise, various sports and moving games is known, the question of increasing physical activity among student youth still remains. As every year there is a tendency to reduce the level of physical fitness, deteriorating health, a phenomenon such is becoming more widespread, which also has a negative impact on the work of students.