Comparison of Physical Fitness Levels Among Faculty of Sports Sciences Students According to Department and Grade Level: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to determine the physical fitness levels of students at the Faculty of Sports Science and to examine whether these levels differ according to department (Coaching Education vs. Sports Management) and grade variables. The research was conducted using a cross-sectional and comparative quantitative design with a sample of 214 volunteer students from Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. Data collection involved various measurements within the Eurofit test battery: body composition via InBody analysis, cardiorespiratory endurance through the 20-meter shuttle run, mus-cular strength via handgrip dynamometry, flexibility using the sit-and-reach test, and static balance via the Flamingo balance test. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U test, with significance set at (p < 0.05). Findings revealed significant differences in height, weight, total body water, skeletal muscle mass, shuttle run performance, and body fat percentage regarding the department variable (p < 0.05). Conversely, for the grade variable, significant differences were identified only in height, total body water, and body mass index, while no statistical differences were found in other physical fitness parameters. In conclusion, the results indicate that while physical fitness levels are generally similar among sports science students, specific variations in body composition and endurance emerge based on de-partment and grade. This suggests that educational curricula and physical activity levels in sports science faculties may selectively influence certain physical fitness components.