Question

Write in detail the procedure and scoring of 'Flamingo Balance Test' and 'Plate Taping Test' recommended for the age group 5 – 8 years by SAI (Sports Authority of India).

Hint:

These tests are valuable for assessing physical abilities in children, helping to identify motor skills and balance proficiency at an early stage.

Answer 1

To solve the problem, we need to write in detail the procedure and scoring of the ‘Flamingo Balance Test’ and the ‘Plate Taping Test’ as recommended by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for children aged 5–8 years.

1. Flamingo Balance Test

Objective:
To assess the static balance of a child.

Equipment Required:
A stopwatch and a wooden beam (dimensions approximately 50 cm long, 4 cm high, and 3 cm wide).

Procedure:
- The child is asked to stand on the wooden beam on one leg only.
- The free leg is bent backward and the foot is held close to the buttocks with the hand on the same side.
- The stopwatch is started as soon as the child assumes this position.
- Time is recorded until the child loses balance, either by moving the supporting foot, releasing the foot held by hand, or touching the ground with any part of the body.
- Each time balance is lost, it counts as a "fall".
- The child is allowed a total of 1 minute during which the number of falls is counted.

Scoring:
- The number of falls within 60 seconds is recorded.
- Fewer the number of falls, the better the balance.
- Performance is interpreted based on normative data for the age group, as per SAI guidelines.

2. Plate Taping Test

Objective:
To assess the speed and coordination of hand movement (upper limb coordination).

Equipment Required:
- Two discs or plates (20 cm in diameter)
- A rectangle measuring 60 cm x 20 cm marked on a table
- Stopwatch
- A wooden block (10 cm x 5 cm x 2 cm)

Procedure:
- The two plates are placed at the ends of the rectangle on the table, and the wooden block is placed at the center.
- The child uses the preferred hand.
- The test begins with the hand on the wooden block.
- On the command "Go", the child moves the hand to touch the plate on one side, then the plate on the opposite side, and returns the hand to touch the block — this is one cycle.
- The child completes 25 cycles as fast as possible.
- The stopwatch is started on "Go" and stopped after the 25th cycle is completed.

Scoring:
- Total time taken to complete 25 cycles is recorded in seconds.
- Less time indicates better hand coordination and speed.
- Performance is compared with age-specific norms provided by SAI.

Final Answer:
The Flamingo Balance Test assesses static balance based on number of falls in 1 minute, while the Plate Taping Test evaluates hand speed and coordination by measuring time taken to complete 25 cycles. Both tests are standardized by the Sports Authority of India for ages 5–8 years.