Improving The Efficiency Of Starting From Starting Stand For Highly Qualified Swimmers

Abstract

The goal of the work is to verify the effectiveness of a set of exercises aimed at increasing the efficiency of starting from the starting stand for highly qualified swimmers specializing in short and medium distances. The experiment involved 20 highly qualified swimmers with a sports rank of master of sports at the age of 18-25 years. The experiment lasted 21 days in the process of training camps aimed at preparing for the main start of the season. The studied indicators: explosive force, the starting reaction time, the swimming time of the starting segment with a length of 15 m, distance speed. In the hall, exercises of speed-power orientation were used to train the time of a simple reaction, explosive force. In water exercises were used to improve the technique of starting from the starting stand. Part of the exercises was carried out under normal conditions, the other part was performed using a special simulator (pneumatic starting stand). The peculiarity of the use of the pneumatic starting stand is that it allows to increase the effectiveness of the start training in swimming by reducing the time of the motor reaction and increasing the repulsive force. As a result of using the complex of exercises, swimmers significantly improved indicators of explosive strength, simple reaction time and starting speed in general. This set of tools can be used in the training of highly qualified swimmers for short and medium distances.

Keywords: Explosive forcelaunch techniquepneumatic starting standphysical exercisesswimmingspeed of a simple motor reaction

Introduction

In swimming at short and medium distances, the start plays a big role. The result of a swimmer largely depends on the starting technique. Moreover, in addition to the launch technique, the degree of development of speed-power abilities (in particular, explosive power) and speed abilities of swimmers have a great importance. Veiga and Roig (2016) note the impact of start and turn indicators on the performance of highly qualified swimmers. It also emphasizes the importance of starting and turning workouts in preparing swimmers. In the works of various specialists, data on ways and methods of developing explosive power in various sports are widely presented.

For the development of explosive strength (speed strength) of athletes, there are various techniques. So, in the work of Comyns et al. (2015), the effect of the buttock warm-up protocol on the efficiency of jumps was shown, and also the rest interval is important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a low-load gluteal warm-up protocol on countermovement and squat jump performance.

However, not all types of massage lead to better results. A study by Arabaci (2008) shows that performing a 10-minute Swedish massage of the hind and 5-minute front lower limb adversely affects the vertical jump, speed and reaction time, and also positively affects sitting test results and achievements

Trainers use Plyometric Jump Training to train explosive strength. For example, studies conducted by Sammoud et al. (2019) showed that short-term seasonal plyometric jump training included in regular swimming lessons cause better performance than regular swimming training in improving jumping and sport-specific swimming results among male prepubertal swimmers. However, during the training of young soccer players Rodriguez-Rosell et al. (2017) founded that although the results show that a combined strength training and plyometry program can be effective in gaining increased strength, jump and sprint for players of different age used by the training program is usually less effective as the age of the players increases. This shows the presence of various sensitive periods of the development of speed-power abilities.

The effects of resistance training are also shown to improve explosive strength in various sports such as tennis (Terraza-Rebollo et al., 2017), weightlifting (James et al., 2018) and soccer (Griffiths et al., 2019). But at the same time, there are many questions to resistance exercises. Buckner et al. (2018) believe that the great amount of evidences suggest that weight training can indirectly affect athletic performance by preventing injury, rather than directly improving athletic ability.

In various sports, trainers use physical exercises to develop explosive strength. For example, soccer coaches indicate that they often use the following exercises: Wind sprints from different positions, Wind sprints in combination with exercises to improve the reaction time with the ball, Sprints for short wind distances, Fast running along the center line of the field, Winding with the ball and less often Wind sprints in combination with exercises to improve reaction time, Maximum speed running from different positions, exercises using simulators, barbells and weights (Bolotin & Bakayev, 2017)

In recent years, video training (Powless et al., 2020), biofeedback (Harvey et al., 2011) and the neurocognitive training program (Moya-Vergara et al., 2019) have been increasingly used to train reaction time (Reaction time training). At the same time, the question of the effectiveness of sensorimotor training of athletes remains. In addition, the researchers show the dependence of reaction time on various parameters, for example, the athlete’s weight (Rodriguez-Arce et al., 2019), the athlete’s condition (Afon'shin & Rozhencov, 2015; Bushueva et al., 2019), and the level of sportsmanship (Cohen, 2012), as well as other parameters.

Thus, the relevance of the selection of physical exercises for the development of explosive strength and speed of reaction in swimming are increasing.

Problem Statement

In scientific and methodological literature, much attention is paid to the analysis of starting and turning techniques. The practical experience of the trainers indicates qualitative and quantitative changes in the starting technique. However, experts and practitioners still have no consensus on the effectiveness of modern launch options, on the specifics of the jumping technique, depending on the preparedness of the athletes and the way of swimming. Therefore, athletes do not use the full potential of starting technology. In this paper, we consider means of increasing the effectiveness of the launch technique.

Research Questions

• Does the use of a special set of exercises in the gym and in the water aimed at developing explosive strength and speed of reaction affect the swimmer’s starting fitness?

• Does the use of exercises on the special simulator “pneumatic starting stand” influence the swimmer’s starting fitness?

Purpose of the Study

The aim of this work is to develop and test a set of exercises aimed to increase the efficiency of start from the pedestal for short and medium distances.

It is assumed that the inclusion in the educational process of training high-skilled swimmers of a set of exercises aimed to increase explosive strength and special technical training devices will enhance the start efficiency and improve sports results in general.

Research Methods

The main research methods are: testing the level of development of explosive strength (Abalakov test) and speed abilities of swimmers (starting reaction time, distance swimming time), as well as a pedagogical experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of a specially developed set of exercises.

Findings

After the pedagogical experiment, an increase in the degree of development of speed-power abilities was discovered among the participants of the experiment.

Table 3 illustrates the changes in the value of indicators of speed-power abilities of swimmers after the experiment.

In general, swimmers significantly (p ˂ 0.05) reduced the time of the starting reaction, and the time of swimming the distance of 15 m from the start was reduced. Significantly (p ˂0.05) improved indicators of explosive strength (Abalakov test). It is due to these parameters that athletes began to demonstrate a higher speed of overcoming the distance.

The change in the start reaction time is not statistically significant. This is probably due to the fact that this parameter is very difficult to train and only within certain limits. This is due to the innate characteristics of the individual to a greater extent than training. In addition, the duration of the experiment, apparently, is not long enough for significant changes in the time of the starting reaction.

If we compare the results that athletes showed after the completion of the pedagogical experiment in short sprinter sections (25 m and 50 m), which were swam from the start at maximum speed in different ways, we can note that these indicators also improved. Moreover, personal trainers of athletes justify this improvement in results by more efficient execution of the starting jump. When analyzing the individual phases of the starting jump, the coaches noted a special change in the direction of improvement in the more powerful repulsion of swimmers from the starting table, which favorably affected the flight phase and longer sliding, which was accompanied by an increase in the speed of athletes as a whole.

Conclusion

The specially developed set of exercises is based on the use of the “pneumatic starting stand” simulator in the training process of swimmers. The use of this simulator in combination with the execution of team starts in normal conditions, as well as a wide arsenal of jumping exercises in the gym, allowed athletes of the experimental group significantly improve the performance of starting preparedness.

Based on the results obtained, it can be judged that the proposed methodology for improving the starting technique is effective and can be recommended for use in the training process by qualified swimmers.

References

1. Afon'shin, V. E., & Rozhencov, V. V. (2015). Tekhnologiya testirovaniya vremeni reakcii sportsmen [Technology for testing the athlete's reaction time]. Fundamental'nye issledovaniya, 2-9, 1957-1960. http://fundamental-research.ru/ru/article/view?id=37341 [in Rus.]
2. Arabaci, R. (2008). Acute effects of pre-event lower limb massage on explosive and high speed motor capacities and flexibility. Journal of sports science and medicine, 7(4), 549-555.
3. Bolotin, A., & Bakayev, V. (2017). Pedagogical conditions necessary for effective speed-strength training of young football players (15-17 years old). Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 12(2), 405-413. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2017.122.17
4. Buckner, S. L., Jessee, M. B., Dankel, S. J., Mattocks, K. T., Abe, T., & Loenneke, J. P. (2018). Resistance exercise and sports performance: The minority report. Medical hypotheses, 113, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2018.02.006
5. Bushueva, T., Baranovskaya, I., Yuryev, S., & Makarova, G. (2019). Influence of psycho-emotional status parameters on functional state of the central nervous system among highly trained short-distance swimmers. Physical education, sport – science and practice, 1-2019, 59-64.
6. Cohen, R. (2012). The relationship between personality, sensation seeking, reaction time and sport participation: evidence from drag racers, sport science students and archers (Doctoral dissertation). Middlesex University. http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/9871/
7. Comyns, T., Kenny, I., & Scales, G. (2015). Effects of a Low-Load Gluteal Warm-Up on Explosive Jump Performance. Journal of human kinetics, 46(1), 177-187. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2015-0046
8. Griffiths, B., Grant, J., Langdown, L., Gentil, P., Fisher, J., & Steele, J. (2019). The Effect of In-Season Traditional and Explosive Resistance Training Programs on Strength, Jump Height, and Speed in Recreational Soccer Players. Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 90(1), 95-102. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2018.1563276
9. Harvey, R. H., Beauchamp, M. K., Saab, M., & Beauchamp, P. (2011). Biofeedback Reaction-Time Training: Toward. Olympic Gold. Biofeedback, 39(1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.5298/1081-5937-39.1.03
10. James, L. P., Haff, G. G., Kelly, V. G., Connick, M. J., Hoffman, B. W., & Beckman, E. M. (2018). The impact of strength level on adaptations to combined weightlifting, plyometric, and ballistic training. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 28(5), 1494-1505. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13045
11. Kochergin, A. В. (1992). Methodological techniques for mastering effective start techniques in swimming (Doctoral dissertation). Federal scientific center of physical culture and sport.
12. Moya-Vergara, F., Curotto-Berruezo, D., Valladares-Arellano, P., Arriaza-Ardiles, E., Valverde-Esteve, T., & Garcia-Manso, J. M. (2019). Evaluation of visual-motor reaction time and quality of response in rugby sevens players after the application of a neurocognitive training programme. International journal of performance analysis in sport. 19(6), 1038-1051. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2019.1691814
13. Powless, M. D., Steinfeldt, J. A., Fisher, S. E., McFadden, P., Kennedy, K. W., & Bellini, S. (2020). Utilizing Video-Based Trainings to Improve Decision Making in High School Quarterbacks. Sports 2020, 8(2), 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8020018
14. Rodriguez-Arce, J., Flores-Nunez, L. I., Portillo-Rodriguez, O., & Hernandez-Lopez, S. E. (2019). Assessing the performance of soccer goalkeepers based on their cognitive and motor skills. International journal of performance analysis in sport, 19(5), 655-671. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2019.1647042
15. Rodriguez-Rosell, D., Franco-Marquez, F., Mora-Custodio, R., & Gonzalez-Badillo, J. J. (2017). Effect of high-speed strength training on physical performance in young soccer players of different ages. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 31(9), 2498-2508. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001706
16. Sammoud, S., Negra, Y., Chaabene, H., Bouguezzi, R., Moran, J., & Granacher, U. (2019). The Effects of Plyometric Jump Training on Jumping and Swimming Performances in Prepubertal Male Swimmers. Journal of sports science and medicine, 18(4), 805-811.
17. Terraza-Rebollo, M., Baiget, E., Corbi, F., & Anzano, A. P. (2017). Effects of strength training on hitting speed in young tennis players. Revista internacional de medicina y ciencias de la actividad fisica y del deporte, 17(66), 349-365. https://doi.org/10.15366/rimcafd2017.66.009
18. Veiga, S., & Roig, A. (2016). Effect of the starting and turning performances on the subsequent swimming parameters of elite swimmers. Sports Biomechanics, 16(1), 34-44.  https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2016.1179782