International Educational E-Journal, {Quarterly}, ISSN 2277-2456, Volume-II, Issue-III, July-Aug-Sept 2013 www.oiirj.org Impact Factor 1.958 Page 72 An Exploratory Factor Analysis Approach for Screening Test Item in Artistic Gymnastics a Supriyo Mondal, b Abhishek Kumar Yadav a Ph.D. Scholar, LNIPE, Gwalior, (M.P.), India b Ph.D. Scholar, LNIPE, Gwalior (M.P.), India In artistic gymnastic various factors such as skill abilities, motor abilities, psychological abilities, social abilities etc are responsible as the performance limiting factors. Fitness testing is an evaluation and observational process which explain capabilities & important characteristics of gymnast. The purpose of this study was to identify which were the determinative factors of test item for screening to the gymnast. A total of 50 male subjects aging between 10 to 12 years having at least sub junior national participation from different region of Uttar Pradesh were selected randomly for the study. The variables included were Height, Weight, Leg Length, Calf Girth, Thigh Girth, Shoulder Width, Arm Length, Standing Broad Jump, Fifty Mt. Running, Sit & Reach Test, and Bridge up Test, Abdominal Strength, and Chin-Ups scores of gymnast. Principal component factor analysis was used for extracting factor scores from the factor, which were adopted as an indicator of the performance capability in gymnastics. Findings revealed four extracted factors, according to the content of their respective items, and were named Anthropometric factor, Speed factor, Flexibility Factor, strength factor. KEYWORDS: Physical Fitness, Factor Analysis, Test Items, Artistic Gymnastics Introduction The Identification and selection of good athletes in specific fields of different sports is based on scientific knowledge. In Modern time not only in Gymnastics but also in different games and sports the sports scientists are working with the top level of qualified coaches in the sports concerned and trying to find out the basic & important characteristics of gymnast that might be the performance limiting factor. In order to achieve an internationally competitive level of gymnastics performance an extraordinary amount of training is required. The identification and selection of future elite athletes in childhood or adolescence has become a necessity. In gymnastics it should begin from the grass root level as the peak performance period is much earlier in this game compared to other games. It takes year of intensive regular training for an international performance to be achieved. In Artistic gymnastics various factors like skill abilities, motor abilities, psychological factor, social factors and environmental factor etc. are responsible as the performance limiting factors. It must be recognized therefore that the identification of talent is very challenging & complex, with many factors. Therefore, correct Abstract