Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess and compare the level of physical fitness of 9- to 11-year-old pupils of Romani and non-Romani origin at practical elementary schools in Prague. Five motor tests (Standing broad jump; Repeated sit-ups; 12-minute run; 4 x 10 metre shuttle run; Sit and reach test) were used to assess physical fitness.
The study confirmed that Romani children had a higher level of physical fitness than non-Romani children, with the differences being more pronounced among boys than among girls. The most equal performance among Romani and non-Romani children of both sexes was recorded in the running endurance test.
A disproportion thus arises between the lower demands placed on Romani pupils in physical education classes and the physical abilities of this group of children. Therefore, higher demands should be placed on this socially disadvantaged group of children than on other pupils for whom total or partial atypical motor development is typical.