Abstract
[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the impact of the long-term implementation of the Active Child Program (ACP) as a warm-up exercise on the physical fitness development of first-grade elementary school students during physical education classes. [Methods] The study involved 93 first-grade elementary school students (49 boys and 44 girls). Baseline physical fitness was measured using three tests: 50-meter sprint, standing long jump, and championship softball throw. These assessments served as pre-tests. After six months of participating in ACP warm-up exercises, the same tests were conducted as post-tests. To assess the effectiveness of the ACP, physical fitness improvements over six months in the ACP implementation group were compared by sex to the national average gains (national average group). Additionally, to examine differences based on initial fitness levels, the participants were divided into three subgroups according to sex and their pre-test performance levels. A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures on one factor was conducted, followed by Bonferroni multiple comparisons when significant main effects were identified. Effect sizes (Hedges’ g) were calculated to evaluate the magnitude of observed differences. [Results and Discussion] The ACP implementation group exhibited greater improvements across all fitness measures compared to the national average group, indicating that the ACP warm-up exercises significantly enhanced first-grade children’s basic physical fitness. Significant effects were observed for all the fitness tests, with particularly large effect sizes noted in the lower performance subgroup. This suggests that ACP warm-up exercises are especially beneficial for children with lower initial fitness levels. These findings demonstrate the value of structured physical education programs, such as ACP warm-ups, in improving overall fitness, particularly amid concerns about declining fitness levels and widening disparities in physical abilities. Therefore, ACP warm-ups present an effective approach to enhancing foundational physical development, especially for younger children.
