The influence of the various specialized physical education teaching programs on students’ aerobic endurance

Abstract

Aerobic endurance (AE) is considered as one of the physical abilities that determines success on job-related physical tests for police officers. Therefore, AE is one of the criteria in selection process, during the education and through working career. At the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies (UCIPS) the development of the level of AE takes place within the course of Specialized Physical Education (SPE). In the school year 2020/2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic measures, SPE classes were organized in two models: regular (the firstyear students) and online (the second, third- and fourth-year students). The aim of this study was to determine the influence of these different modules of SPE studying on AE of the UCIPS students. The sample of the respondents included 46 students of the first year (19 women and 27 men) and 45 students of the third year (21 women and 24 men). AE was estimated by using Cooper’s running test at the start and at the end of the observed studying year. The difference between initial and final testing was defined by using a pair sample t-test. It was determined that AE increased by 5.5% (t = -3.353, p = 0.004) with women and for 4% (t = -3.139, p = 0.004) with men for the first-year students. In contrast, the third-year students had the reduction of AE by 3.6% (t = 2.415, p = 0.025) with women and by 6.2% (t = 3.354, p = 0.003) with men.