The Effect Of Exercise Ball Training On Improving Handstand Ability In PERSANI Athletes In Makassar City

Abstract

Handstand is a fundamental skill in floor gymnastics that requires core stability, shoulder strength, arm support, balance, coordination, and precise body control. However, several PERSANI Kota Makassar athletes still experience difficulty maintaining correct body alignment and stability during handstand execution. Therefore, an appropriate training method is needed to improve the physical components that support handstand performance. This study aimed to determine the effect of exercise ball training on improving handstand ability among PERSANI Kota Makassar athletes. This research used a quantitative experimental method with a two-group pretest–posttest design. The sample consisted of 20 athletes selected through random sampling and divided into two balanced groups using ordinal pairing: the exercise ball training group and the control group, each consisting of 10 athletes. Handstand ability was measured using a movement skill assessment rubric with a score range of 1 to 3. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, normality test, homogeneity test, and paired sample t-test. The results showed that the exercise ball group increased from a pretest mean score of 1.40 to a posttest mean score of 2.40, with a mean difference of 1.000 and a significance value of 0.000 < 0.05. The control group also improved from 1.20 to 1.70, with a significance value of 0.015 < 0.05. However, the improvement in the exercise ball group was higher. It can be concluded that exercise ball training is effective in improving handstand ability among PERSANI Kota Makassar athletes.