Game stretching as a modern means of developing the flexibility of 5–6-year-old female gymnasts

Abstract

Purpose: to prove the effectiveness of the technique of game stretching to increase the level of development of flexibility in female gymnasts aged 5-6 years. Material & Methods: the study involved 30 female athletes aged 5-6 years who are engaged in rhythmic gymnastics. According to the results of the initial testing, a group of female gymnasts was divided into control (n=15) and main (n=15), taking into account the absence of significant differences in the indicators of flexibility tests. Both groups of young gymnasts trained in accordance with the curriculum for the Youth Sports School in rhythmic gymnastics (1999). In the training sessions of female athletes of the main group, a specially developed technique of game stretching was included, aimed at developing flexibility. Results: the obtained results of the study give grounds to assert that the proposed methodology, by which female gymnasts of the main group (MG) trained, contributed to a more pronounced (p<0,05; p<0,01) increase in the level of flexibility development compared to the results of female athletes control group (CG), who trained according to the traditional flexibility development program. So in tests T1 "Extension in the knee joints" (cm); T2 "Twisting the stick" (cm); T4 "Gymnastic bridge" (points) significant differences in test scores were found with a probability of 99% at p≤0.01. In tests T3 “Backward bend in lying position” (cm); T5 “Performing splits on the right”, (points) and T6 “Performing splits on the left”, (points) there were also found significant differences in indicators with a probability of 95% at p≤0.05 between the main and control groups. However, in the T7 test “Performance of transverse splits” (points), an unreliable difference was obtained between the performance of the gymnasts of the main and control groups (p>0,05), although an improvement in the results in this test was observed in both groups. Conclusions: the results of the study showed the effectiveness of the method of game stretching to increase the level of development of flexibility in female gymnasts 5-6 years old. The technique contributed to a more pronounced (p<0,05; p<0,01) increase in the level of development of flexibility among female athletes of the main group (MG) compared with the results of female gymnasts in the control group (CG). So, in tests T1 "Extension in the knee joints" (cm); T2 "Twisting the stick" (cm); T4 "Gymnastic bridge" (points) significant differences in test scores were found with a probability of 99% at p≤0,01. In tests T3 “Backward bend in lying position” (cm); T5 “Performing splits on the right”, (points) and T6 “Performing splits on the left”, (points) there were also found significant differences in indicators with a probability of 95% at p≤0,05 between the main and control groups. The results obtained allow us to recommend the developed methodology for use in the training process of young gymnasts at the stage of initial training. And test exercises were applied that are not included in the Curriculum, such as T1 "Extension in the knee joints" (cm); T2 "Twisting the stick" (cm); T3 “Backward bend in lying position” (cm) is quite informative and can be used to control the flexibility of gymnasts at all stages of preparation.

Coordination ladder as a modern means of online training to improve the physical fitness of female gymnasts 8-9 years old

“…Our studies have revealed that online training on the coordination ladder with young female gymnasts does not lose in effectiveness, but rather contributes to the complex development of physical qualities, has a positive effect on the mental state of female athletes. The complex development of physical qualities at this stage of training plays almost the main role in achieving further sports results [11,13,37]. But the transition of female athletes from the stage of initial training to the stage of basic training takes place against the backdrop of a contradiction with the Curriculum for the Youth Sports School in artistic gymnastics [30].…”

“…To keep up with the trends in the development of the sport, gymnasts are forced to make incredible efforts to achieve a competitive sports result. Hard work on improving technical skills and physical fitness is the main direction in the preparation of athletes [11,28,37]. In gymnastics, without the proper level of physical fitness, it is impossible to achieve results in the training and competitive process [36,38].…”

“…At present, when athletes are limited in physical activity and do not have the opportunity to fully engage in sports, it is important to maintain the already achieved level of physical fitness and prevent the deterioration of the child�s health in general [8,18]. The rapid development of artistic gymnastics and early specialization require appropriate effective training methods [11,28,36]. This is one of the key reasons why modern gymnastics has to rely heavily on scientific research [22,41].…”

“…In such conditions, online training becomes relevant -a type of motor activity using techniques adapted for home conditions that allow you to maintain and improve physical fitness [7,27,29,35]. At present, it is timely to use non-traditional and affordable means of training young athletes, especially at the stage of basic training, when gymnasts already have certain achievements and their further result depends on the effectiveness of the training process [11,37]. Such an alternative means can be the use of multicomponent and multifunctional exercises on the coordination ladder, which can be effectively applied in online conditions.…”

“…It is used in both individual and group classes [3,4,17,34]. Given that the level of physical fitness is determined not only by one physical quality, but by their combination [10,11,25,37], then the value of exercises on the coordination ladder lies precisely in the fact that they provide an opportunity for the complex development of physical qualities [3,4,17,34]. Analysis of scientific and methodological literature [8, 16, 20 33] showed that a lot of attention has been paid to the problem of developing physical qualities in gymnastic sports and there are a large number of evidence-based methods for their development at all stages of training gymnasts, but simple, afford- able and effective methods for the integrated development of physical qualities that can be used in online training in gymnastics is not described enough.…”