Vol. 2, Issue 1, Part A (2020)

Kho-Kho is a traditional Indigenous sport originating in India that demands high levels of physical fitness, mainly focused on balance, agility, acceleration, endurance, speed, and rapid motor coordination. Among the various skills, Success in this game largely depends on the player's ability to dodge the opponent swiftly and tap the runner efficiently within a short reaction time and restricted space. The present study aims to investigate the relationship of two essential performance factors Dodging Speed and Tapping Ability with their respective physical correlates i.e. Running Speed and Arm Length, among district-level female Kho-Kho players of Bankura district, West Bengal. A total of 32 female district-level Kho-Kho players, aged between 19 and 22 years, were selected using a purposive sampling method. The 3x3M Dodging Test was used to measure dodging speed (in seconds), while the 50-meter Sprint time was recorded to assess running speed. Tapping ability was evaluated using the Tapping Accuracy Test (in seconds), and arm length was measured using a standard anthropometric tape from the acromion process to the tip of the middle finger (in centimetres). Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) was used to assess the linear relationships. The analyses revealed an insignificant relationship between running speed and dodging speed (r=0.23), indicating that players who sprint faster rarely tend to have superior dodging abilities. Sprinting speed, typically measured by linear sprints, in a straight line with minimal changes in direction, allowing athletes to build and maintain maximum velocity. In contrast, dodging speed in Kho-Kho is a multi-directional, reactive agility skill that requires rapid changes in direction, frequent acceleration and deceleration, and dynamic balance. Whereas, arm length demonstrated a significant positive correlation with tapping ability (r=0.82), suggesting that players with longer reach are better equipped to tag opponents effectively, likely due to enhanced spatial coverage and quicker contact feasibility.