EFFECT OF HARVARD STEP TRAINING ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS OF FEMALE STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN KINETICS AND SPORT SCIENCE

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research study is the effect of Harvard step training on the cardiovascular fitness of female student-athletes in the department of human kinetics and sports science. Four research questions were raised and this forms the basis of the research. Simple random sampling technique was used and the sample size was divided into two equal groups the experimental group which will be subjected to the Harvard step training and results obtained and the control group which will not be subjected to the Harvard step training but aerobic exercise the one group quasi experimental deign was implemented, fourth (40) undergraduate female human kinetics student-athletes took part in the test. The instruments used to gather data in the study include the Harvard step test bench which is 33cm high for females, and the Omron blood pressure monitor used to collect data on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the beats per minute before and after the test is administered. Data obtained were analyzed using mean (average). The findings revealed that the Harvard training programme has an effect on the heart rate, systolic blood pressure and reveals that significant difference between the cardiovascular fitness of human kinetics undergraduate student-athletes in terms of the effect of the Harvard step training do exist across undergraduate who were administered the Harvard step training and those administered aerobic exercise. While the Harvard step training programme does not have an effect on the diastolic blood pressure of the selected female human kinetics student-athletes in the University of Benin.

Arising from the findings, the following recommendations, were made that the results and findings in the study can be taken into consideration when designing sport programmes and events, student-athletes should get experts and professional trainers who will administer training programs like the Harvard step training programme, a proper choice of cardiovascular fitness should provide diagnostic insights into the morphological, motor and functional components of athletic fitness, student-athletes should struggle to break through various kinds of human limitations in the training sessions this is ever dependent on recent advancement in sport training technologies and scientific findings, both student-athletes and the old athletes should engage in it with appropriate modification.