| Abstract [eng] |
A changing geopolitical situation related to the invasion of Russian armed forces into the Ukraine made our country’s politicians pay attention to Lithuanian soldiers’ physical training and fitness. Soldiers’ physical fitness is an important factor characterising soldier’s ability to perform professional activities (Baliutavičius, 2002; Justickis, 2000). Both good health and good physical condition are created through soldier’s physical self-development. Soldiers’ physical fitness is insufficient. A poor level of soldiers’ physical fitness is determined by a limited training programme, soldiers’ unwillingness to train self-sufficiently. The fitness of soldiers attributed to certain groups according to performed functions as well as specificity of their training are not analysed at all. A question of suitability of assessment of soldiers’ physical fitness is worth discussing too. The aim of the research: to analyse soldiers’ physical fitness according to performed functions, relating it to the programme of physical training, suitability of the system of assessment of soldiers’ physical fitness. Research objectives: 1. To analyse correspondence of the system of soldiers’ physical training to present-day requirements. 2. To investigate suitability of the system of assessment of soldiers’ physical fitness. 3. To analyse expression of components of physical fitness in soldiers performing different functions (development of speed-power of muscles stretching arms, development of speed-power of abdominal muscles, development of the cardiovascular system). 4. To analyse complex physical fitness of soldiers performing different functions. The research idea, analysis of the research results and their reasoning were based on the following methodological provisions: statements of the promoters of the humanist pedagogy and psychology theories (Rogers, 1983; Maslow, 2006), the constructivism theory (Weinberger, 2004; Martišauskienė, 2008; Pollard, 2006), provisions of the pragmatism theory, the physical training theory, the physical education theory, the adaptation theory. The following methods have been applied in the research: theoretical analysis and generalisation, analysis of documents, questionnaire-based survey, mathematical statistics. Indices of physical fitness components in 228 soldiers have been explored. The research has been carried out in the spring of 2014 and the autumn of 2014. In total, results of 1365 tests have been processed. Conclusions: 1. The system of assessment of soldiers’ physical fitness is too narrow and does not motivate a soldier for physical self-development. Alternation of indices of physical fitness proves the necessity for perfection of the system of soldiers’ physical preparation. 2. The system for assessment of soldiers’ physical fitness reflects only two components of soldier’s physical capacity: muscular endurance and strengths as well as aerobic endurance (aerobic capacity). The assessment system does not reflect the functions performed by a soldier. Such a system is quite convenient for senior age soldiers. Functions performed by a soldier should become an essential criterion in designing sensitive systems for assessment of physical fitness. 3. Soldiers of a motorised infantry company are best physically fit. They are closely followed by soldiers of a small arms munitions group company. Physical fitness of soldiers of an immediate support company, a headquarters’ company and soldiers serving in headquarters is of a lower level. 4. Components of soldiers’ physical fitness are highly stabile. Over four moths of research and being favourable for development of aerobic endurance, two components of soldiers’ physical fitness remained at the same level, whereas the component of the cardiovascular system fell off. The formal programme of soldiers’ physical training is to be improved in both volume and quality aspects. Volumes and intensity of soldiers’ physical self-development are too low to cause serious alterations of indices of both systems and function of an organism as well as physical fitness. |
