Relationships between N-challenge agility and the New Physical Fitness Test in elementary school children

Abstract

N-challenge is an enjoyable agility test for children that incorporates straight running, hurdle running, slalom running, and left and right turns, necessitating multiple physical fitness components. In Japan, children’s physical fitness is assessed using the New Physical Fitness Test (NPFT), comprising eight fitness test items. However, the association between agility, as assessed by the N-challenge, and physical fitness, as evaluated by the NPFT, remains unexplored. This study seeks to investigate the relationship between physical fitness as measured by the NPFT and performance in the N-challenge among elementary school children. The study involved 460 students from grades 3 to 6, including 230 boys and 230 girls. N-challenge running times were measured using a photoelectric tube system originally developed and interfaced with a personal computer. The NPFT was administered following established guidelines. Correlation analysis, controlling for age and sex, examined the relationship between N-challenge outcomes and the eight NPFT items. The results revealed weak to moderate significant correlations (|rs_p| = 0.182-0.648, all p<0.01) between N-challenge running time and seven of the fitness test items and total NPFT scores, except for the sit-and-reach test. Furthermore, a moderate correlation (rs_p = -0.546) was observed between the side-step test and N-challenge performance. Notably, the highest correlation coefficient (rs_p = 0.648) was found between N-challenge and the 50-m sprint test. The results suggest that agility performance assessed by N-challenge test, which consists of multiple motor components, was associated not only with side-step test performance but also with multiple physical fitness components, especially sprinting ability, in elementary school children.