SportLogia
Vol. 19, Broj 1, December 2023.

 

CORRELATION OF BASIC AND SPECIFIC PHYSICAL ABILITIES: A STUDY ON THE OBSTACLE COURSE FOR ASSESSING SPECIFIC AGILITY OF POLICE OFFICERS

Radivoje Janković
University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies, Belgrade, Serbia

Original scientific article
10.7251/SGIA2319119J
796.8-053.4/.5:351.74/.76

Abstract

         This study examines the relationship between basic physical abilities (BPA) and specific physical abilities (SPA), particularly focusing on the obstacle course for specific agility of police officers. The study involved 358 students from the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies in Belgrade, Serbia. A variety of tests assessed BPA, including maximal isometric force of hand finger flexors, one-repetition maximum bench press, standing long jump, sit-ups, linear running speed, the Illinois agility test, and anaerobic and aerobic endurance. Results indicated a significant correlation between these basic and specific physical abilities, as measured through the obstacle course. The study suggests that physical readiness significantly influences the performance of police-specific tasks. It underscores the importance of continuous development and assessment of both BPA and SPA, tailored to professional requirements in policing. These findings emphasize the need to consider enhancements to test batteries for assessing physical abilities at the situational level of Specialized Physical Education. They underscore the need for continuous improvements in training and testing methodologies, with the aim of further developing the professional competencies of future police officers.

Key words: students, police training, physical fitness assessment, law enforcement education

FULL TEXT (.pdf)


References

Amanović, Đ., Milošević, M. (2022). Znanja, sposobnosti i veštine neophodne za uspešno obavljanje policijskih poslova obezbeđene specijalnim fizičkim obrazovanjem. Bezbednost, 64(1), 108 – 122.

Amanović, Dj., Mašić, Z., Kostovski, Ž., & Ljubisavljević, M. (2015). Special physical education in police: model of education and training. Acta Kinesiologica, 9(2), 51‐57.

Annell, S., Lindfors, P., & Sverke, M. (2015). Police selection – implications during training and early career, Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 38(2), 221-238.

Beck, A.Q., Clasey, J.L., Yates, J.Y., Koebke, N.C., Thomas G Palmer, T.G., Abel, M.G. (2015). Relationship of physical fitness measures vs. occupational physical ability in campus law enforcement officers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 29(8), 2340–2350.

Bissett, D., Clete, J., Snell, C. (2012). Physical agility tests and fitness standards: Perceptions of law enforcement officers. Police Practice and Research, 13(3), 208-223.

Crawley, A., Sherman, R., Crawley, W., Cosio-Lima, L. (2015). Physical Fitness of Police Academy Cadets: Baseline Characteristics and Changes During a 16-Week Academy. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30(5), 1416-1424.

Dillern, T,. Jenssen, O. R,. Lagestad, P,. Nygård, Ø., Ingebrigtsen, J. (2014). Arresting a struggling subject; Does the forthcoming police officers physical fitness have an impact on the outcome? The Open Sports Sciences Journal, 7(1) 2-7.

Dimitrijević, R., Koropanovski, N., Dopsaj, M., Vucković, G., Janković, R. (2014). The influence of different physical education programs on police students’ physical abilities. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management. 37(4), 794-808.

Dopsaj, M., Blagojević, M., & Vučković, G. (2007). Normativno-selekcioni kriterijum za procenu bazično motoričkog statusa kandidata za prijem na studije Kriminalističko-policijske akademije u Beogradu. Bezbednost, 49(4), 166-183.

Dopsaj, M., Janković, R. (2014). Validnost poligona specifične spretnosti kod studenata KPA: Metabolički i funkcionalni pokazatelji fizičkog opterećenja, NBP. Nauka, bezbednost, policija, 19(1), 185-199

Dopsaj, M., Vuković, M., Milojković, B., Subošić, D., & Eminović, F. (2012). Hand grip scaling in defining risk factors when using authorized physical force. Facta universitatis – series: Physical Education and Sport, 10(3), 169–181.

Hair, J., Anderson, R., Tatham, R. and Black, W. (1998). Multivariate data analysis (5th ed.). NY: Prentice Hall Inc.

Ivanović, J., Koropanovski, N., Vučković, G., Janković, R., Miljuš, D., Marinković, B., Atanasov, D., Blagojecić, M & Dopsaj, M. (2009). Functional dimorphism and characteristics considering maximal hand grip force in top level athletes in the Republic of Serbia. Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche, 168(5), 297-310.

Janković, R., & Dopsaj, M. (2022). Sprint running, agility and anaerobic endurance: Standards for the students at the University of Criminal Investigation and police studies. NBP. Nauka, bezbednost, policija, 27(2), 45 – 58.

Janković, R., Dopsaj, M., Dimitrijević, R., Savković, M., Vučković, G., Koropanovski, N. (2015). Validity and reliability of the test for assessment of specific physical abilities of police officers in anaerobic-lactate work regime. Facta Universitatis – series: Physical Education and Sport, 13(1), 19–32.

Koropanovski, N., Kukić F., Janković, R., Dimitrijević, R., Dawes, J., Lockie, R., Dopsaj, M. (2020). Impact of physical fitness on recruitment and its association to study outcomes of police students. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation. 42(1): 23-34.

Koropanovski, N., Kukić, F., Janković, R., Kolarević, D., Subošić, D., Orr, R., (2022). Intellectual potential, personality traits, and physical fitness at recruitment: Relationship with academic success in police studies. SAGE Open, 12(1), 1 -10.

Kukić, F., Heinrich, K., Koropanovski, N., Greco, G., Cataldi, S., Dopsaj, M. (2022a). Body Composition and Physical Activity of Female Police Officers: Do Occupation and Age Matter? Sustainability. 14: 10589.

Kukić, F., Heinrich, M.K., Koropanovski, N., Poston, W.S.C., Čvorović, A., Dawes, J., Orr, M.R., Dopsaj. M. (2020). Differences in body composition across police occupations and moderation effects of leisure time physical activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17(18): 6825.

Kukić, F., Koropanovski, N., Janković, R., Dopsaj, M. (2019a). Effects of specialized physical education and additional aerobic training on aerobic endurance of police students. Human. Sport. Medicine, 19 (2), 58-64.

Kukić, F., Orr, R., Marković, M., Dawes, J., Čvorović, A., Koropanovski, N. (2022b). Factorial and Construct Validity of Sit-up Test of Different Durations to Assess Muscular Endurance of Police Students. Sustainability. 14: 13630

Kukić, F., Šćekić, A., Koropanovski, N., Čvorović, A., Dawes, J., Dopsaj, M. (2019b). Age-related Body Composition Differences in Female Police Officers. International Journal of Morphology. 37(1): 302-307.

Lockie, R.G., , J. Dawes, J.J., Balfany, K., Gonzales, C.E., Beitzel, M.M., Dulla, J.M., Orr, R.M. (2018). Physical fitness characteristics that relate to work sample test battery performance in law enforcement recruits. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(11), 2477.

Lonsway, K. A. (2003). Tearing down the wall: Problems with consistency, validity, and adverse impact of physical agility testing in police selection. Police Quarterly, 6(3), 237-277.

Marins, E., Barreto, G.B., Del Vecchio F. (2019). Characterization of the Physical Fitness of Police Officers: A Systematic Review. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(10):1.

Orr, M.R., Kukić, F., Čvorović, A., Koropanovski, N., Janković, R., Dawes, J., Lockie, R. (2019). Associations between Fitness Measures and Change of Direction Speeds with and without Occupational Loads in Female Police Officers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16(11): 1947

Rhodes, E.C; Farenholtz, D.W. (1992). Police officer’s physical abilities test compared to measures of physical fitness. Canadian journal of sport sciences. 17(3) 228–233.

Schick, E.E., Coburn, J.W., Brown, L.E., Judelson, D.A., Khamoui, A.V., Tran, T.T., Uribe, B.P. (2010). A Comparison of Muscle Activation Between a Smith Machine and Free Weight Bench Press. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(3), 779-784.

Strating, M Bakker R. H., Dijkstra G. J., Lemmink, K. A. P. M., Groothoff J. W. (2010). A job-related fitness test for the Dutch police. Occupational Medicine, 60(4), 255–260.

Strauss, M., Foshag, P., Brzek, A., Vollenberg, R., Jehn, U., Littwitz, H., Leischik, R. (2021). Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Associated with a Reduced Cardiovascular Risk in Occupational Groups with Different Working Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study among Police Officers and Office Workers. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(9), 2025.

Sullivan, G. M., & Feinn, R. (2012). Using effect size—or why the P value is not enough. Journal of graduate medical education, 4(3), 279-282.

Vučković, G., Subošić, D., Kekić, D. (2011). Physical abilities of police officers as prerequisite for suppressing violence at sporting events in the republic of Serbia. Facta Universitatis – series: Physical Education and Sport, 9(4), 385 – 397.

Williams, J. R. (2008). The Declaration of Helsinki and public health. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 86, 650-652.

Živković, S., Mlađen, D., Čabarkapa, M. (2020). Psihofiziološke osnove bezbednosti u radnom okruženju. Bezbednost, 62(2), 50–68.

Received: 3.10.2023.
Approved: 27.11.2023.


Correspondence:
PhD, associate professor Radivoje Janković
University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies, Belgrade, Serbia