College students' expectations when selecting racquetball and rhythmic fitness activity classes.

Physical education instructors have made certain assumptions as to why students choose physical activity classes. This study was undertaken to assess what studencs expect when enrolling in selected physical activity classes. The value to physical educators is to assist them in communicating with their students. The dialogue has usually been one way, instructor to student via c o m e objectives and lectures. A survey given students, on enrollment, queried the benefits expected from the activity class. The two most popular activity classes were selected, as these account for over half of the enrollment and represent physical fitness and competitive individual games. The racquetball sample included 146 men and 93 women. The mean age for men was 22.9 yr. and 22.2 yr for women, with a range of 17 to 55 yr. and 17 to 51 yr., respectively. In the rhythmic aerobic sample of 16 men and 222 women, mean age for men was 21.6 yr. and 22.6 yr. for women, with a range of 17 to 29 and 17 to 51 yr., respectively. Of the total sample 7.5% of the students were noncaucasian. The sample was representative of the student population. Racquetball has a large coed enrollment, however, there are almost two men to every woman enrolled. Out of 14 reasons listed, the primary reason 85% of the students enroll is to have fun. When asked about certain fitness components about one-thud (39.0% men and 34.4% women) expected to improve their flexibhty, one-half (53.4% men and 5 1 6% women) to improve cardiovascular function, and one-half (51.4% men and 53.6% women) to maintain fitness. Women responded differently from men in three areas. Fifty percent of the nren expected to improve their muscle tone while 78.5% of the women did. More women (52 7qo) expected ro lose weight by playing racquetball than men (30.1%). More women expected to learn the game of racquetball (63.4% women and 41.1% men). More women expected (47.3%) to be ablc to reduce stress than men (38.4%). Although instructors like to believe students enroll in their classes because studenrs hcard the instructor was "good" or that the class was "good," only 8.9% of the men and 10 8% of the women selected "heard the instructor was good." Rhythmic aerobics, exercise done to music, is still predominantly a female activicy on most campuses. Of the 238 students sampled only 16 were men, 6.7%. Men's responses are induded, although these ate few and so of limited value. Of 11 reasons for enrolling, physical fitness was the most frequent choice. Over 75% of the students expected to improve their cardiovascular fitness (87.5% men and 75.7% women) and flexibility (87.5% men and 75.7% women), while more than 80% wanted to improve muscle tone (81.3% men and 92.3% women). Weight loss and having fun were selected by > 70% of students, and 76.6% of the women expected to lose weight. Seventy-five percent of the men wanted to reduce stress and 53 6% of the women. One-third of the women (33.8%) and 6.3% of the men took the class because lhey wanted to work out with other people. The reputation of the instructor was important to few (5%). Understanding students' expectations for physical activity classes may assist instructors to create a more meaningful experience and so decrease withdrawals. When expectations are unrealistic or inappropriate, early communication may make possible other choices, even staying despite a particular expectation not being met.