Background: Physical Education (PE) is crucial for students' holistic development. However, the general fitness of non-sports major students, especially females, often falls below required standards. While previous research at Saigon University developed a new basketball program for male students, the specific fitness needs of female students remain understudied. This study aimed to fill this gap. 

Purpose: To assess the current general fitness status of female students in a Basketball 1 course and evaluate the effectiveness of a selected set of physical fitness exercises on their fitness development. 

Methods: A total of 369 female students were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG, n=180) and a control group (CG, n=189). An initial pool of 50 exercises was compiled from literature. Through structured interviews with 30 experts, 22 exercises achieving ≥80% agreement were selected. The EG followed a 15-week program integrating these exercises according to a detailed weekly schedule, while the CG followed the standard curriculum. Fitness was assessed pre- and post-intervention using six standardized tests (handgrip strength, sit-ups, standing long jump, 30m sprint, 4×10m shuttle run, 5-minute run) based on Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training standards. Perceived exertion (RPE) was also measured. 

Results: Pre-intervention, no significant differences existed between groups (p>0.05). Post-intervention, the EG showed significantly greater improvements in all six tests (p<0.05). The growth rate (W%) was substantially higher in the EG, with differences ranging from 0.26% to 2.65% across tests. RPE scores were significantly lower in the EG post-intervention (12.26 vs. 13.26, p<0.05).