Effect of circuit training program on selected physical fitness variables of wahel primary and secondary school female students in Dire Dawa Administrative region

This study attempted to explore effects of circuit training program on selected physical fitness variables of female students. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 24 novice female students aged 15 to 16 years from grade 9 students. The main objective of the study was to investigate the effect of circuit training program on selected physical fitness variables of Wahel Primary and Secondary School female students in Dire Dawa Administrative Region. All subjects under this study took part in experimental design pre- and post test without control group from April to June in 2013, 3 days per week for 3 months and 40 minutes per session. The physical fitness variables selected for the study were: cardio respiratory endurance (1.6 km run in minutes), muscular endurance (sit-ups reps/60 seconds), muscular strength (modified push-ups reps/30 seconds), power (standing long jump in meter) and agility (4x10 m shuttle run in seconds). Data were analyzed by using SPSS paired samples t- test with pair wise comparison of means at 95% confidence interval by using pre, during and post tests. The results indicated that there were significantly improvements in performance on selected physical fitness variables due to the effects of circuit training with active rest (p □ 0.05). This study confirmed that circuit training with active rest was significant to improve the physical fitness variables. The mean difference (MD) between pre and post tests for: 1.6 km run was -1.33 in minute and second; for 30 seconds, push-ups was +5.00 in number; for 60 seconds sit ups was +6.58 in number; for standing long jump was +0.26 in meter and for 4x10 shuttle run was -1.35 in minute and seconds. The main finding of the study was novice female students have discovered positive outcomes towards physical fitness variables. The study also illustrates that health and fitness level of participants can be improved as a result of circuit training program.