V.V. Bakaev, Ph.D.
A.E. Bolotin, professor, Dr.Hab., Honored Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation
V.S. Vasil'eva, Ph.D.
St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg

Keywords: cross-country skiers, sports specialization, conditions of choice of specialization, stayer skiers, sprint skiers.

Introduction. Skiing is important for people's health promotion and training of young men to serve in the army [1-3]. It is included in the Olympic program. In recent years, new disciplines were added to the competition program of cross-country skiers. Sprints of skiers, included in the Olympic program, became very popular and entertaining. So, new approaches to qualifying and training of sprint cross-country skiers were required. Sprint differs a lot from classic races not only by its short duration, but also by the heat of the contact struggle at a distance. During these competitions a skier must give his all at a distance to be qualified for the next round of the competition, and then recover quickly to participate in the next race. So specific training of sprint skiers is required, which is completely different from the training of stayer skiers. High skill level of sprint skiers is characterized by good condition of functional systems of the body and learning the tactics of struggling at a distance. Skills of sprint skiers depend on many factors, including their actions during the competition.

In modern competitive conditions high demands are placed on the skills of cross-country skiers of all specializations. When performing in competitions, cross-country skiers are subject to great physical load and psychological stress. However, the training of sprint and stayer skiers differs significantly. In this regard, the coaches are to ensure early orientation of cross-country skiers to a particular sports specialization, which, obviously, should be systematic. It is of particular importance to take measures on the scientific support of the training process and identify the factors that determine the sports specialization of skiers [2, 3].

The purpose of the research was to conduct a sociological analysis to identify the factors that determine the sports specialization of cross-country skiers.

Materials and methods. Solution of the mentioned problems was closely related to the identification of the factors that determine the sports specialization of cross-country skiers. In order to define the rank structure of these factors 83 coaches and elite athletes from St. Petersburg with over 10 years' experience and performance in various competitions were interviewed.

Results and discussion. As the main factors that determine the sports specialization of cross-country skiers the respondents singled out genetic differences in the reaction to different loads, and morphological and functional characteristics of the muscular system and the body of cross-country skiers. It was also noted that different athletes have different reactions to physical load due to morphological and functional characteristics of the muscular system and the body of cross-country skiers. The respondents noticed such factors as absence of a universal reaction of cross-country skiers to training load, and differences in their reaction to speed load and endurance load. Experience has shown that some athletes are more prone to speed work, while others can better cope with constant monotonous physical load associated with the display of endurance.

Differences in the height and weight indices of cross-country skiers are essential for determination of their sports specialization, as well as differing degrees of recovery after physical loads. Coaches state that athletes with greater muscle mass and higher level of development of muscular strength are more apt to speed work and can be oriented on the training process in the sprint skier group. Moreover, in their opinion, the rate of recovery after load is an important factor for determination of sports specialization. The skill to relax the arm muscles and muscles of the entire body after poling is equally important, as well as an athlete's inclination to a particular sports specialization (Table 1).

Table 1. Rank structure of factors that determine sports specialization of cross-country skiers (n=83)

Conclusion. The factors detected during our study determine the vector of cross-country skiers' early orientation to a particular sports specialization. Consideration of these factors will help enhance the efficiency of the cross-country ski coaches' activity and will contribute to the development of an optimized training technique for athletes in this sport.

References

1. Bolotin, A.E. Model’ protsessa podgotovki prizyvnoy molodezhi k voinskoy sluzhbe (Model of training process of young conscripts) / A.E. Bolotin, R.A. Layshev // Uchenye zapiski universiteta im. P.F. Lesgafta. – 2012. – № 12(94). – P. 27–31.
2. Bolotin, A.E. Pokazateli gotovnosti studentov k zdorov’e sberegayushchemu povedeniyu (Indicators of students' readiness for health saving behavior) / A.E. Bolotin, V.V. Bakaev // Uchenye zapiski universiteta im. P.F. Lesgafta. – 2013. – № 12(106). – P. 36–39.
3. Bolotin, A.E. Pedagogicheskaya tekhnologiya upravleniya zdorovym obrazom zhizni studentov (Pedagogical technology of management healthy lifestyle of students) / A.E. Bolotin, V.V. Bakaev // Uchenye zapiski universiteta im. P.F. Lesgafta. – 2014. – № 1(107). – P. 24–28.

Corresponding author: vlad.bakaev@gmail.com