Methods of Developing the Ability to Balance in Young Gymnasts

Balances in rhythmic gymnastics constitute one of the basic groups of elements. When performing any elements of the program, it is extremely important for a gymnast to maintain the balance of the body and its parts in relation to each other. At the same time, flexibility is considered a fundamental quality in the sport in question, for it determines both selection and training in sports schools. The aim of the study was to substantiate the effectiveness of the training program for young gymnasts at the initial stage of sports training (1st year of training) based on the methodology of developing the ability to balance. The study was conducted from September 2017 to March 2018 on the basis of Sports School of the Olympic Reserve No. 42 (Moscow). The participants were of the same age, which ensures the qualitative homogeneity of the sample. Two groups of participants - experimental and control - were randomly formed. In the experimental group, the training of young gymnasts was conducted according to the methodology, the main provisions of which are: the division of training in the direction of the development of physical qualities in accordance with the schedule; the use of parterre gymnastics exercises as a warm-up; a strictly determined sequence in the development of elements (small poses, concluding exercises, large poses of classical dance, forms of basic equilibria, complicated equilibria, turns). The results of the control tests showed that, in the experimental group, the average increase in the index of ability to equilibria (Ae = 30.8%) was significantly higher than in the control group (Ac = 8.3%). The practical application of the proposed technique is that it can be used in the organization of the training process of young gymnasts at the stage of initial sports training (1st year of training). Currently, when training novice athletes, the emphasis is on the development of the physical quality of flexibility. In the course of the study, the authors found it necessary to answer the question of whether the developed technique had a negative impact on the development of flexibility. They analyzed the flexibility tests used in the selection of gymnasts and saw that the quality of change in both groups was comparable. Therefore, it can be concluded that the developed methodology does not prevent the development of flexibility. The results of this study will serve as a starting point for further research on the problem of the content of the training process of young gymnasts at the stage of initial sports training.

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