"Effect of Cricket Participation on Overall Physical Fitness among Adolescents"

Abstract

Adolescent physical fitness is a key component of healthy growth, function, sports performance and preventing lifestyle health issues. Adolescent involvement in organized sports may allow for a periodic schedule of activity for each component of fitness. Cricket is a popular sport, which involves sprinting, running, throwing, catching, quick changes of direction, balance, coordination and a long spell of concentration for playing the game. While some people think that cricket doesn't involve as much running as some other long duration sports, cricket today does involve repeated intense movements, combined with those of moderate length followed by episodes of recovery. The present study explores the effects of frequent involvement in cricket participation on overall physical fitness of adolescents. Special focus is placed on the larger physical fitness components, which are speed, muscular strength, endurance, agility, flexibility, balance and coordination. The study serves to find the differences between adolescents who regularly attend cricket training and adolescents who do not have systematic training in cricket. Meaningful differences between the two groups can be measured by standard physical fitness tests. Cricket should improve the performance of adolescents in several fields of fitness due to their repeated exposure to sport specific fitness constructs: running, fielding, batting, bowling and conditioning. The study might offer insight for physical education teachers, coaches, parents and sports professionals about the role that cricket plays in adolescents' physical growth and the need for consistent sports involvement as a way to keep a healthy and active lifestyle.