LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Lengvaatlečiai; Lengvoji atletika; Vertybių raiška; Athletes; Moral and volitional values; Track & field athletics.
ENValues are an integral part of competences, cognition and expression, peculiarities of which help to reveal the personality via psychological, social, sporting, moral and spiritual maturity. Practice of track & field develop not only athletic skills, but also the values, which are essential to achieve excellence in sports and the overall personality development. The aim of the research was to reveal the peculiarities of values expression amongst the 13–17 year old track & field athletes. The subject of research – expression of values amongst the 13–17 year old track & field athletes. Research methods applied – questionnaire survey, mathematical statistical analysis, comparative pedagogical analysis. There were 367 13–17 year old Lithuanian track & feld athletes – 179 girls and 188 boys randomly chosen using the serial principle, who were interviewed. For data analysis the respondents were divided into groups according to their age and gender: 13–14 year old track & field athletes (n=132) – girls (n=75), boys (n=57); 15–17 year old track & field athletes (n=235) – girls (n=104), boys (n=131). The respondents were requested to mark the five of the twenty three moral and volitional values, which are most significantly developed during the track & field athletics exercising and competition (Žilinskienė, 2008). It was determined that to the 13–17 year old track & field athletes the most important volitional values are the endurance (79.3 percent), determination (64.3 percent.), persistence (62.7 percent), diligence (48.5 percent), strong will (42.0 percent). Less important are the autonomy (28.1 percent), responsibility (25.3 percent), dutifulness (20.7 percent), disciplining (20.2 percent), integrity (18.8 percent). Most irrelevant appear to be moral values, such as sincerity (8.2 percent), courtesy (7.6 percent), orderliness (7.4 percent), solicitude (6.3 percent).The track & field athletes of the age of 13–14, when compared to their colleagues of the age 15–17, significantly higher pointed out courtesy (p=0.004), creativity (p=0.024), diligence (p=0.01), discipline (p=0.002), sincerity (p=0.013) and modesty (p=0.011). 13–14 year-old girls and of the same age boys do not significantly differ in upbringing of their moral and volitional values, yet more girls are convinced that practising track & field athletics helps to develop courage (p=0.002). It was determined that the 15–17 year old girls, when compared to the boys of the same age, choose such volitional values, as endurance (p=0.009) and courage (p=0.029) as well as moral values, dutifulness (p=0.007), responsibility (p=0.011) and autonomy (p=0.026). [From the publication]