Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to establish percentile normative data and to find age and gender differences in motor performance tests of 9-10 year-old junior tennis players in Turkey. Five different motor performance tests – 5 m and 10 m sprint tests s , tennis ball throwing test m , standing long jump test m and modified tennis planned agility test s - were applied to 2461 925 boys and 647 girls aged 9; 495 boys and 394 girls aged 10 competitive tennis players. The mean and standard deviation for each test data were calculated according to the players’ age and gender groups, and then percentile tables were established for them. Independent samples T test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to determine significant mean and percentage change in means differences in the related measures of the groups. Older girls and boys performed significantly better than younger boys and girls, and boys are superior to girls in the tests. Differences were found significantly in age and gender on all of the motor tests; however, age seems to be related more to performance than gender is. Differences of a lesser magnitude were found on only 5 m sprint test for gender and on only 10 m sprint test for age. The result that significant age and gender differences were found on all the motor test items may stem from biological and environmental factors. The test results and creating normative data may help players and coaches to improve specific areas of weakness to further enhance their on-court agility and speed

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