Harmonized physical and technical training model for swimming sport elite tested in basic training mesocycle

ˑ: 

PhD, Associate Professor A.V. Arishin1
Dr. Hab., Professor S. M. Akhmetov1
Dr. Hab., Professor A.I. Pogrebnoy1
1Kuban State University of Physical Education, Sports and Tourism, Krasnodar

Keywords: physical and technical training, swimming sport elite, synergy, combined training tools, mesocycle.

Background. Modern training system may be defined as the harmonized sequence of training tools and components designed and managed so as to ensure the fastest technical and tactical progress. The training system designer shall prudently balance the training system elements by the scopes and intensities with due consideration for their potential positive and negative interactions. Thus an excess of the physical training elements in the swimming elite training system is known to be potentially detrimental to the technical growth and competitive progress of the swimmers [2]. On the other hand, when the training system is well designed and managed to ensure due synergy of the training tools, the resultant progress may be much higher than when these tools are applied altogether with little attention to their sequencing, harmony and synergy [5].

As far as the range of possible correlations and mutual influences of the training components and tools are concerned, they may unlikely be covered herein, although it should be emphasized that the research community gives a special priority to the physical and technical training elements as the key in any training cycle [2-4]. It should also be mentioned that the existing study reports on the physical and technical training elements integration in the training systems show that these issues are still underdeveloped and deserve a special attention of sport specialists.

Objective of the study was to rate benefits of the new movement biomechanics prioritizing harmonized physical and technical training model for the swimming sport elite.

Methods and structure of the study. We used in the study a set of the swimming process video capturing and analyzing methods with dynamometric tools provided by a SwimForceTest computerized test system, with the test data processed by a standard statistical toolkit. We sampled for the new physical and technical training model testing experiment timed to a 6-week basic training mesocycle elite swimmers (n=26) qualified CMS, MS and WCMS; and split them up into Experimental and Control Groups (EG, CG) of 13 people each. The CG was trained in the traditional training system, and the EG training was dominated by the movement biomechanics prioritizing new harmonized physical and technical training model. The gym trainings were assisted by a VASA ERGOMETER training machine that helps closely simulate (as stated by the manufacturer) aquatic swimming motor skills; plus KINESIS and VASA Trainer simulators. The gym trainings with simulators took at least 40% of the total training time in the EG, and aquatic practices – at least 30%, with the actual proportions dictated by the mesocycle-specific training goals.

Results and discussion. Striving to find the best movement biomechanics harmonizing points in the physical and technical training toolkit, in the EG training system we gave a special priority to the gym and aquatic practices of special benefits for the physical and technical training harmonizing and synergizing purposes. The physical and technical training tools were selected, among other things, in view of the aquatic and on-land stroke power test rates versus the stroke kinematics. The individual physical and technical training progress was facilitated by special technical equipment and accessories including a range of rubber bands (applied ashore and in water), hand blades of different sizes, stroke technique excellence tools with weights and training intensity controls, and the above mentioned KINESIS, VASA Ergometer and VASA Trainer machines.

We have analyzed in a prior study similarities in the movement kinematics and physical parameters of the aquatic swimming techniques versus that on the VASA Ergometer simulator [1]. Herein we used the prior findings to find the closest correlations between the on-land and aquatic technical parameters including the momentary stroke power in the pull phase, momentary strength in the pull phase and thrust phase on land; and the hand movement speed and acceleration in the pull and thrust phases in water (r≥0.78; p <0.01): see Figure 1.

 

Figure 1. Correlations of the physical and technical training elements in the new training model

Note: numbers of test rates in brackets, p<0.01

The correlations give the reasons to believe that these physical and technical training tools are well synergized. A comparative analysis of the pre- versus post-experimental kinematic/ dynamic tests rates of the EG and CG showed benefits of the new model: see Table 1.

Table 1. Pre- versus post-experimental test data of the EG and CG, M±m

 

EG, n=13

CG, n=13

Test rates

Pre-exp.

Post-exp.

Pre-exp.

Post-exp.

Stroke length, m

1,92±0,01

2,12±0,05

t=2,19

p<0,05

1,91±0,06

1,94±0,11

t=1,99

p>0,05

Pace, moves per min

54±2,12

48±1,27

t=2,25

p<0,05

52±2,12

46±2,42

t=2,54

p<0,05

Hand move time in pull phase, s

0,29±0,04

 

0,37±0,01

t=2,19

p<0,05

0,29±0,05

 

0,29±0,03

t=1,84

p>0,05

Hand move time in thrust phase, s

0,17±0,02

0,25±0,01

t=2,63

p<0,05

0,18±0,01

 

0,19±0,02

t=2,07

p>0,05

Momentary stroke power in pull phase, W

123,25±1,25

139,52±2,57

t=2,38

p<0,05

124,52±3,29

127,29±9,07

t=2,01

p>0,05

Momentary stroke power in thrust phase, W

223,01±2,02

281,71±7,01

t=2,84

p <0,05

239,01±8,37

253,04±6,99

t=1,89

p>0,05

Total aquatic pull strength, kg/ s

189,24±0,57

199,67±2,01

t=2,59

p<0,05

175,62±9,44

179,11±5,77

t=1,98

p>0,05

As demonstrated by the above Table, the CG has made insignificant progress in the stroke length that cannot be interpreted as technical progress – versus the EG test rates that were indicative of a significant technical progress on this test scale; with both groups tested with a significant fall in the movement paces. Note that the inverse correlation of the stroke length with pace (indicative of the swimming technique quality and efficiency) was found only in the EG. Furthermore, our analysis of the technique kinematics using the computer video analyzing method found a significant progress in the EG in the duration of the key movement phases (pull and thrust phase) – versus an insignificant CG progress in the thrust phase only (p> 0.05).

Having analyzed the physical fitness test rates, we found that the purposeful training of the stroke phase by the combined on-land plus aquatic physical and technical training tools has resulted in the significant growth of the momentary stroke power in pull phase in the EG – versus insignificant progress in the CG. Since the stroke power directly contributes to the total aquatic thrust, the EG was tested with a significant progress in this test rate as well: see the Table. The significant progress of the EG in the propulsion strength elements may be interpreted as secured by the new harmonized on-land plus aquatic physical and technical training model. The traditional training system in the CG was found to secure insignificant progress in the tested physical qualities (p> 0.05).

As far as the spatial and temporal parameters of the swimming technique are concerned, it should be noted that the swimming speed heavily depends on the hand speed and acceleration in every phase of the stroke sequence. The EG hand speed in the thrust and pull phase was tested to grow by 32% and 12% versus 7% and 2% in the CG, respectively, for the experimental period; whilst the hand acceleration rate was tested to grow in the pull and thrust phase by 25% and 30% versus 5% and 5% in CG, respectively. The progress may be interpreted as indicative of the stroke power growth with development of the so-called whip effect in the technique that is known to contribute to the swimming speed. No wonder that the EG made progress in the average competitive speed from 1.95±0.03 m/s to 2.06±0.01 m/s (p <0.05) versus 1.96±0.02 m/s to 1.97±0.01 m/s (p> 0.05) in the CG.

Conclusion. The new movement biomechanics prioritizing harmonized physical and technical training model for the swimming sport elite was tested beneficial as verified by the significant progress made by the EG in many tests versus the traditionally trained CG.

References

  1. Arishin A.V., Pogrebnoy A.I. Related physical and technical fitness progress of elite swimmers in training macrocycle. Fizicheskaya kultura, sport – nauka i praktika. Krasnodar, 2018. No. 4. pp. 23-29.
  2. Platonov V.N. Competitive swimming: how to succeed. V. 2. Мoscow: Sovetskiy sport publ.. 2012. 544 p.
  3. Salo D., Riuold S. Perfect swimming training. Transl. from Eng. I.Yu. Marchenko. Мoscow: Euro-management publ., 2015. 268 p.
  4. Fomichenko T.G. Age patterns of manifestation and training of strength qualities in competitive swimming. Doct. Diss.  (Hab.). Мoscow, 1999. 318 p.: il.
  5. Shishkina A.V., Novakovsky S.V. Special physical training of qualified cross country skiers: synergistic approach. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury. 2010. No.3. pp. 22-26.

Corresponding author: ondrugo@mail.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to rate benefits of the new movement biomechanics prioritizing harmonized physical and technical training model for the swimming sport elite.

Methods and structure of the study. We used in the study a set of the swimming process video capturing and analyzing methods with dynamometric tools provided by a SwimForceTest computerized test system, with the test data processed by a standard statistical toolkit. We sampled for the new physical and technical training model testing experiment timed to a 6-week basic training mesocycle elite swimmers (n=26) qualified CMS, MS and WCMS; and split them up into Experimental and Control Groups (EG, CG) of 13 people each. The CG was trained in the traditional training system, and the EG training was dominated by the movement biomechanics prioritizing new harmonized physical and technical training model.

Results and conclusions. The new movement biomechanics prioritizing harmonized physical and technical training model for the swimming sport elite was tested beneficial as verified by the significant progress made by the EG in many tests versus the traditionally trained Control Group.