ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVELS AMONG HANDBALL, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND SPRINTERS WITHIN THE EKITI STATE SPORTS COUNCIL

This study investigated the assessment of physical fitness levels among handball, volleyball, basketball players and sprinters within the Ekiti State Sports Council. Specifically, the objectives seek to examine the physical fitness levels of handball, volleyball, basketball players, and sprinters in Ekiti State Sports Council, compare the physical fitness levels among athletes from the four different sports disciplines and determine the components of physical fitness are most developed in each group of athletes. The research design_for this study adopts a descriptive survey research design. The population of this study comprised all registered athletes participating in handball, volleyball, basketball, and sprinting events under the Ekiti State Sports Council. A total of 10 athletes will be selected for this study using the purposive sampling technique. The instruments to be used in this research include; stopwatch, measuring tape, cones, lawn, marked wall, bouncing ball, ruler, balance beam and track. Face and content validity were used for this study. The data collected were subjected to descriptive analysis using correlation technique the hypotheses generally were all tested at 0.05 level of significant. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics and were presented in tables. The result revealed that fitness profiles corresponding to the demands of each sport. Sprinters showed superior performance in speed and explosive power, whereas basketball and handball players exhibited higher levels of agility, muscular endurance. The result revealed from the findings that there is a significant different between reaction time and athletes in handball, volleyball, basketball, and sprinting in Ekiti State Sports Council. In addition, it was revealed that the correlation that exists between reaction time and athletes in handball, volleyball, basketball, and sprinting in Ekiti State Sports Council. Based on the findings, it was recommended that pregnant coaches should design and implement training regimens tailored to the unique physical requirements of each sport. Sprinters should focus on explosive power and speed, while teamsport athletes should prioritize agility, endurance, and strength. The Ekiti State Sports Council should institutionalize periodic fitness testing to monitor athletes' progress, identify weaknesses, and adjust training strategies accordingly. Sports-specific flexibility and conditioning programs should be integrated into training routines to reduce injury risks and improve performance.