Two problems were examined with respect to muscular endurance of the abdominal and thigh flexor muscles: first, the hypothesis that muscular endurance can be increased through mental rehearsal of a particular item of endurance; second, that the increase, if any, would be as great as, or greater than that achieved through sole physical practice of the same item. Thirty-six subjects were selected from the required physical education programme at The University of British Columbia to engage in the experiment. They were equated into three groups on the basis of similar results obtained in two sit-up tests. One group served as a control, the second group practised sit-ups physically and the third group mentally rehearsed sit-ups. Following the initial tests the first group did not practise again for twenty days; the second group physically practised sit-ups for five minutes on each of twenty days; and the third group mentally rehearsed sit-ups for five minutes on each of the twenty days. On the final day individuals of all three groups were re-examined in the original sit-up test. Results indicated that muscular endurance of the abdominal and thigh flexor muscles is increased significantly over a twenty day period by a daily five minute mental practice of sit-ups. It was also found, however, that the increase was significantly smaller than that achieved by a daily five minute physical practice of sit-ups. It was concluded that where physical practice is at all possible this method is recommended over mental practice to facilitate an increase in muscular endurance. Two recommendations of further study in the area of mental practice and muscular endurance were made. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of weight training on general agility, and further, to examine the effectiveness of progressive resistance exercise, as opposed to badminton, in the development of general agility. Three factors, non-translatory, translatory and change of direction were identified in the literature as being separate components of general agility. Suitable tests representing these factors were selected to examine the hypotheses. Thirty-six University of British Columbia first and second year students enrolled in the service programme of the School of Physical Education were randomly selected and divided into three groups. Following the initial tests, the Experimental Group underwent a programme of weight training, one of the Control groups played badminton and the second Control group was restricted from all physical education activity. At the end of the ten week period, the three groups were retested in the same manner. The Experimental Group averaged gains in performance that were statistically significant for all three items, whereas, Control Group I (Badminton) exhibited gains that were statistically significant in the Burpee and Side Step tests only. No statistically significant gains were obtained for Control Group II (no activity). The improvement of the Experimental Group did not significantly exceed the improvement of Control Group I in any of the tests, but did, however, significantly exceed the improvement of Control Group II in the Burpee and Side Step tests. The improvement of Control Group I significantly exceeded that of Control Group II in the Side Step Test only. A low statistical relationship was established between the three test Items. It was concluded that weight training was effective in developing non-translatory and translatory agility, and that badminton was also effective in developing these aspects of agility. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a twice-weekly thirty-minute circuit training class in improving the Cardiovascular condition and motor performance of male freshmen enrolled in the Required Physical Education Programme at the University of British Columbia. An experimental sample of twenty subjects was selected randomly from one of the eight circuit training classes but this number was reduced to fifteen by the end of the term. A statistical comparison of the experimental group with a large sample of first year students tested in 1962 was made for height, weight and four motor performance items. The two groups were found to be sufficiently alike to consider the experimental group as reasonably representative of male college freshmen enrolled in the required programme of the University. The subjects were given a -twenty-seven item fitness test battery prior to and at the end of the ten week circuit programme. The gains in fitness measures were evaluated by an analysis of the reliability of mean differences for each test item, a conversion of the mean test scores into standard scores from scoring tables for normal young college men in order to determine mean standard score improvement, and an analysis of the number of students who, between tests, increased their scores, decreased their scores, or remained the same. These results were then compared with those obtained from a physical conditioning programme study which utilized the same tests, procedures and time spent in training between tests. In almost all the variables studied, approximately three-quarters of the subjects showed changes which were in the direction of increased physical fitness. All of the twenty-seven items used showed mean changes in the direction of increased physical fitness and twenty-two of them were statistically significant. These included all the motor performance items and eight of thirteen cardiovascular condition items. Each individual, showed a somewhat unique pattern of changes in cardiovascular condition. Several subjects with relatively high scores on their initial tests had lower scores when they were retested and some subjects who had relatively low initial scores showed higher scores on re-test. The rest of the subjects, in general, increased their scores on retest. The training programme was adequate to produce fair improvements in cardiovascular condition in the initially unfit students. Factors extraneous to the study appeared to influence those subjects who scored high initially but then regressed on retest. The training programme seemed sufficient in duration or intensity (or both) to produce improvement in motor performance. The circuit training programme was found to be superior to the physical conditioning programme in improving most aspects of physical fitness. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of the investigation was to study a programme of Progressive Reinforcement Training and to note the changes in performance in running 800 metres. Two secondary purposes were: 1. To study several physiological variables and to note changes after the Progressive Reinforcement Training. 2. To note certain psychological characteristics of the subjects. Nine students of a major secondary school in Vancouver participated in the study. The group trained on a Progressive Reinforcement Training Programme for seven weeks. The Cattell Junior-Senior High School Personality Questionnaire was administered to each individual of the group. The group was pre and post-tested on the following items: vertical jump; isometric leg strength; treadmill performance time; acid-base balance prior to and after the first and last training sessions. Time trials were recorded prior to, during and after the training programme. The results of the Personality Factor Questionnaire indicated that the runners tended to be happy-go-lucky, conscientious, doubting and self-sufficient. All members of the group were classified as positive achievers. The results showed that there was no statistically significant improvement in the vertical jump score (t=0.076). There were significant differences at the .05 level of significance on the following isometric strength scores: Left Knee Flexion (t=5.69); Right Knee Flexion (t=4.4l); Left Hip Flexion (t=2.58); Right Hip Flexion (t=5.30); Left Hip Extension (t=7.32); Right Hip Extension (t=4.98). However, no significant gains were made on the Left Knee Extension (t=2.07) or Right Knee Extension (t=2.15). Within the Progressive Reinforcement trained group, it was found that treadmill performance times were significantly increased (t=9.02). The results of the blood analyses indicated that a general trend existed in which the pH values decreased significantly as a result of training. After the Progressive Reinforcement Training, it was noted that there were significant improvements in times for running 800 metres (t=6.84). / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

During the school year, cadets in ROTC programs are required to participate in mandatory physical training. However, during the summer months, training is not required. Changes can occur in VO2max with both training and detraining. The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to determine if VO2max changes over the summer in cadets returning to campus and (2) to determine if there is a difference in VO2max between returning cadets and new cadets. Participants completed a graded exercise treadmill test to determine their VO2max in the spring of 2010 and in the fall of 2010. The results show a significant decrease in the returning cadets’ VO2max from time point 1 (spring) to time point 2 (fall). No difference was noted between returning cadets’ and new cadets’ VO2max. In conclusion, by providing the cadets with a program to be completed during extended breaks, a decrease in VO2max could possibly be avoided.

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