Abstract:
The purposes of this study were to investigate and to compare the physical fitness of students at the higher certificate of education level of the teachers colleges in the Western Region and also to set up the physical fitness norms for these students. A stratified random sampling method was used to select 800 students with equal boys and girls. The International Committee for Standardized Physical Fitness Test was used in collecting data. The obtained data were then analyzed in order to find the means and standard deviations and after that the normalized T-scores were transformed. One Way Analysis of Variance were also employed to determine the significant difference. The major findings were : 1. The means of physical fitness scores in each test items for the boy students were 7.50 seconds for the 50-meter sprints, 2.18 meters for the standing board jump, 3.97 minutes for the 1,000-meter run, 44.96 kilograms for the grip-strength, 9.36 for the pull-ups, 11.08 seconds for the shuttle run and 22.86 for the 30-second sit-ups. 2. The means of physical fitness scores in each test items for the girl students were 9.88 seconds for the 50-meter sprints, 1.59 meters for the standing broad jump, 4.32 minutes for the 800-meter run, 3087 kilograms for the grip-strength, 9.65 seconds for the flexed arm-hang, 12.93 seconds for the shuttle run, 15.61 for the 30-second sit-ups and 13.08 centimeters for the trunk forward flexion. 3. The physical fitness of higher certificate teachers college boy students in the Western Region was significantly different (P<.05). 4. The physical fitness of higher certificate teachers college girl students in the Western Region was significantly different (P<.05) 5. The physical fitness Nakhornpathom Teacher College boy students was significantly different (P<.05) from Phetchaburi Teacher College and Kanchanaburi Teacher College boy students but was not significantly different (P>.05) from boy students from Chombung teacher College. 6. The physical fitness of girl students form Combung teacher College was significantly different (P<.05) from Phetchaburi Teacher College and Kanachanaburi Teacher College girl students but was not significantly different (P>.05) from girl students from Nakhornpathom Teacher College. 7. The total scores of the physical fitness norms for the boy students at the excellent, good, moderate, rather low and low level were 429.38 and over, 389.79-429.37, 301.61-389.78, 271.02-310.60, 271.01 and under respectively. 8. The total scores of the physical fitness norms for the girl students at the excellent, good, moderate, rather low and low level were 492.32 and over, 446.20-492.31, 353.96-446.19, 307.84-353.95, 307.83 and under respectively.