The educational value of physical activity at school age

Abstract

Physical activity positively intervenes on the physiological, cognitive and affective - relational side of the person, aspects intrinsically linked to the achievement of psycho-physical well-being. Over the last decade, the positive correlation between physical activity and active lifestyles in children and adolescents has been the focus of various research (Gawrilow et al., 2016; Budde e al., 2008; Castelli et al., 2007; Nelson & Gordon, 2006; Sigfusdottir, Kristjansson & Allegrante, 2006) who, starting from different points of view, demonstrated the strong educational value of the physical activity. The present study, after a brief examination of the most important international documents on the educational value of physical activity, sets out the results of empirical research carried out in a secondary school in our territory, with pupils with different levels of physical activity experience. The research has allowed to record an increase in the levels of physical efficiency demonstrated by the tests submitted to the experimental group, except in the race test on the 30 m. In conclusion, It is possible to affirm that regular and vigorous physical activity allows significant improvements in motor performance.