This study aimed to track the degree of physical fitness in children, by examining the relationship between physical fitness levels at 6 and 12 years of age using longitudinal data. Participants included 194 children (104 boys and 90 girls) who performed physical fitness tests at the ages of 6 and 12 years. We conducted 7 exercises at 6 years of age and 8 at 12 years. We calculated Pearson's product moment correlation coefficients between fitness levels at these two ages. Significant correlations were observed in all of the items assessed in boys at the two ages (jumping power: r=0.592, muscular endurance: r=0.314, flexibility: r=0.286, running ability: r=0.840, throwing power: r=0.673, agility: r=0.385, muscle strength: r=0.444, overall physical fitness: r=0.717). In girls, significant correlations were observed in jumping power (r=0.297), flexibility (r=0.334), running ability (r=0.562), throwing power (r=0.338), agility (r=0.292), and overall physical fitness (r=0.534). The flexibility item was found to track fitness to a significantly higher degree in girls compared to boys. The items of jumping power, running ability, throwing power, agility, muscle strength, and overall physical fitness, were found to track fitness to a significantly higher degree in boys compared to girls. In boys, running ability, throwing power, jumping power, muscle strength, muscle endurance tracked moderately well during the study period. In girls, running ability tracked moderately well. These results suggest that the physical fitness levels of boys and girls at 6 years of age predict their fitness levels at 12 years of age moderately well. In addition, fitness levels in boys generally show a higher degree of tracking over time compared to girls.

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