STAGES OF READINESS IN THE UNDERTAKING OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND LEVELS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AMONG POLISH AND TURKISH CHILDREN

Abstract Acquiring competences in the area of physical culture depends on the intention of physical activity, as well as on the level of physical fitness. It is important to learn the factors determining physical fitness; therefore the purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between the stages of readiness for regular physical activity and the level of physical fitness of children from Poland and Turkey. The research included pupils aged 14 living in the Raciborz area in Poland and in the area of the city of Balikesir in Turkey. Readiness for regular physical activity was assessed using a special algorithm in accordance with the concept of the transtheoretical model (TM). In this research the interpretation of TM was accepted for the assessment of intentional behavior. To determine the level of physical fitness, the European Fitness Test - Eurofit was used. Statistical analyses showed statistically significant differences. Of the 8 tests carried out, in six - a larger level was obtained by respondents from Poland and in five of them these were statistically significant differences. In 2 of the tests carried out, the young people from Turkey reached an average higher level. The correlation coefficient between the stages of readiness to undertake physical activity and physical fitness tests was calculated to achieve the main objective. The vast majority were low dependencies. On the basis of the conducted research, it was found that the studied group of Polish youth was characterized by a higher level of physical fitness than their peers in Turkey. There was no significant relationship between the stages of readiness to undertake physical activity and the results of fitness tests. The need for further research was concluded