V.N. Potapov, professor, Dr.Hab.
Tyumen State University, Tyumen

Keywords: self-suggestion texts, individual style of self-regulation, competitive activity.

Relevance. The failure performances of the Russia's national biathlon team at international competitions in recent years, including the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, have highlighted a number of issues, that require seeking and scientifically substantiating new ways to improve the training of biathletes. The researchers believe that one of the ways to resolve the situation, related to successful competitive activity, is a relatively new approach based on the use of the research data related to the phenomenon of individual style of self-regulation as a multi-aspect psychophysiological phenomenon controlled at the morphological and dynamic levels.

At the present level of development of biathlon, when almost all possibilities of high-volume and stenuous training loads in conjunction with various techniques and methods of sports training have been used up, the scientific substantiation of the technology of formation of an individual style of self-regulation of biathletes and its practical use in the general system of athletes’ training will boost their sports performance. This is due to the fact that under relatively equal external and a variety of internal conditions the developed style features, individual regulatory capabilities of elite athletes to set goals and means of general and special training, to consciously adhere to set plans and adjust their implementation according to results at various training stages become increasingly important for their efficient training.

The purpose of the paper was to reveal the essence and structure, as well as the pedagogical conditions for application of self-suggestion texts during training and competitions, of the developed comprehensive technology of formation of individual styles of self-regulation for elite biathletes (V.N. Potapov, 2002).

Materials and methods. While elaborating self-suggestion texts applied in individual technologies ("psycho-muscular training", "local inspiration/expiration"), a two-part structure was chosen. Auto-suggestion had two functions: passive and active. Basically, in the first part of verbal stimulation these functions helped create the necessary psychophysical, psychophysiological state wherein suggestion was the most effective. Verbal ways of physical and mental relaxation were used, which themselves led to stress relieving, normalization of functioning of tension and relaxation mechanisms, restrained or suppressed negative emotions. Particularly, the general formula "I am cool" was used, that was especially important due to its general content, as it was actually applicable to all body systems. A state of rest contributes to the development of quiet, even breathing, but breathing can be controlled voluntarily to a limited extent (A.P. Kozin, 1985, p.48). That is why, after the general formula of rest, we used the formula which made it impossible to consciously intervene in the reflex respiratory mechanism: "Breathing is quiet and even". Also, we used the muscular relaxation formulas that relieved nervous tension before the competition, or when running the distance, since any attempt to relax tight muscles using self-suggestion does relieve nervous tension, irritation, although no outer effect may be observed at that (Yu.M. Bludov, V.A. Plakhtienko, 1987).

It should be noted that in the first part of the text of verbal influence we used the suggestion formulas which caused lightness, gravity-free state, i.e. mobilizing formulas; and the formulas that brought burden, i.e. developed inhibitory processes, were not used (D.V. Kandyba, 1996; V.S. Lobzin, M.M. Reshetnikov, 1996; N.G. Sytin, 1990). In the second part of the self-suggestion text we used the suggestion formulas of motivation, which promoted the state ensuring fulfillment of tactical, motor tasks and were realized by means of the goal-setting formulas.

The psychological mechanism of functioning of the goal-setting and intention formulas was explained by V.M. Bekhterev (1991, p.128-135). The goal-setting formulas help create the state of optimal body performance needed for more effective and rational forthcoming activity. The efficiency of the goal-setting formulas is due to their subconscious fixation, besides they are not controlled by the mind, will, which in turn shifts the responsibility on to the performer (E. Stones, 1984).

Consequently, the information included into the self-suggestion text is focused on mobilization, activation and support of an athlete, that is, it determines biathletes' readiness to perform the forthcoming competitive tasks. It must be noted that among the mobilizing suggestive influences are those that induce an athlete to purposefully manifest his conations. They are perceived as a command, which an athlete is a priori ready to fulfill, especially, in view of the effect of motivating information, which, so to speak, predetermines his decision, while mobilizing information contributes to determination of additional reserve for the purpose of achievement of set goals, mobilization of conations. Mobilizing information is aimed at optimization of psychophysical activity, maintenance of the sense of confidence, assurance of success.

Self-suggestion texts implied realization of a specific line of action or performance result. The goal-setting formulas comprised those thoughts and feelings that ensured fulfillment of tactical and motor tasks of a specific competition. Athletes were to include in the goal-setting formulas the verbal influences which caused a feeling of joy of performing exercises, readiness to continue their work, overcome a fatigue feeling, feeling of uncertainty, which strengthened motivation of the goal-setting formulas.

When developing the goal-setting formulas, we considered the specificity of the period of realization of an individual style of psychophysiological self-regulation: we used short and standard formulas with procedural presentation of the target state. Short and standard formulas made up the bulk of the suggestive influence in the time of performing exercises during warming up and competition.

It is to be noted that formulas with procedural presentation of the target state were implemented during warming up, irrespective of the peculiarities of their directional effect, and behavioral formulas were included after relaxation.

In the elaborated texts, verbal auto-suggestion within hetero-suggestion formulas was realized from the first person (for example, "I am cool...") due to the fact that the appeal "I" engages the active compound, which concerns a particular person and, therefore, reinforces the suggestive influence.

It should be stressed that individual patterns of self-suggestion texts were implemented in different periods of competitive training of athletes and at the time of running the competitive distances.

I period - 1.5 hours before the competition, while in a state of relative rest, athletes used by themselves: psycho-muscular training, "local inspiration/expiration", acupressure, individual patterns of self-suggestion texts.

II period - during warming up - "local inspiration/expiration" and individual patterns of self-suggestion texts, Reinhold Voll diagnostics and psycho-muscular training.

It should be emphasized that warm-up included special flexibility and stretching exercises, which, besides increasing the amplitude of available free movements, reduced the chance of injury and psychoemotional tension of the CNS, which was seen in a subjective sensation of peace, objective relaxation of mimic muscles, heart rate fall, bradypnoea and lowering of blood pressure.

It must be noted that the above-listed technologies used in the first and second periods were implemented not separately and consistently, but synchronously and in parallel. Massage and sauna were used on a weekly basis as prevention and treatment and antistress procedures.

III period - when running the competitive distance - individual patterns of self-suggestion texts when covering complicated sections of the distance and solving tactical tasks, "local inspiration/expiration" and universal relaxation self-suggestion texts at the time of running relatively simple slopes.

Conclusion. In conclusion it should be said that the findings confirmed the effectiveness of using model self-suggestion texts in training and competitive processes of elite biathletes, which is confirmed by the high teacher’s rating of effectiveness of their sports activities, along with the positive data of medicobiological examinations of athletes.

References

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Corresponding author: mangeley60@mail.ru