A Comparison of the Motor Performance of Black and Caucasian Girls Age 6–8

Abstract

An investigation was undertaken to determine possible age and race difference between Black and Caucasian girls ages 6, 7, and 8 years. Ninety female subjects were administered 28 test items measuring speed, muscular power, agility, flexibility, balance, muscular endurance, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Few significant differences were observed between adjacent ages but 8-year-old females were significantly superior to the 6-year-old subjects on most motor performance variables utilized. For race comparisons, no significant differences were noted for measures of flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, speed, balance, or muscular power. The Black subjects were significantly superior on two measures of agility while the Caucasian subjects performed significantly better on the time-limit shuttle run and grip strength.