The Effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training on Sprint Speed Performance among Elementary School Students in Rural Areas: A Quasi-Experimental Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26858/cpjok.v18i2.774Keywords:
Training; High-Intensity Interval; Sprint Speed; Physical Education; Rural Schools.Abstract
Physical education in elementary schools, particularly in rural areas, often faces limitations in facilities, time allocation, and training methods, which can hinder the development of students’ physical fitness, including sprint speed. Therefore, innovative and efficient training approaches are required to optimize learning outcomes. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in improving sprint speed performance among elementary school students in rural areas, with the hypothesis that HIIT provides greater improvement compared to conventional physical education methods. This study employed a quantitative quasi-experimental design using a two-group pretest–posttest approach. A total of 24 fifth-grade students from a rural area in Tuban, Indonesia, were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned into an experimental group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 12). The experimental group underwent a structured HIIT program consisting of sprint intervals combined with bodyweight exercises over six weeks (three sessions per week), while the control group followed conventional physical education instruction. Sprint speed was measured using a 40-meter sprint test before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests and independent sample t-tests. The results revealed that the experimental group showed a significant improvement in sprint speed (t = 6.72; p < 0.001), whereas the control group did not demonstrate a significant change (t = 1.04; p > 0.05). Furthermore, between-group analysis indicated that HIIT was significantly more effective than conventional training (t = 5.58; p < 0.001). In conclusion, HIIT is an effective, efficient, and practical method for improving sprint speed performance among elementary school students in resource-limited environments.
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