Gymnastics disciplines are characterized by its high technical demands. To check the results of technical training it`s necessary to measure if the skill achieve the requirements exposed in the International Code of Points (FIG, 2009). For this purpose it´s useful to applied biomechanics tools to carry out a completed 3D video analysis of each skill. But kinematics variables must be translated to these requirements to make these results more interesting to coaches. The aim of our study was to define a comprehensible card including kinematics results that can help coaches to know if the skill achieves the requirements exposed in the International Code of Points. Methods: A 3D video analysis of switch leap to ring position was performed. 10 gymnasts from Junior and Senior Spanish national team were filmed. Two synchronized DV video cameras at 50 Hz and 1/1000 exposure time were used. The area was calibrated with a prism (4x2x2 m) that defined 12 control points. A 17 segment body model was used to calculate temporal, angular and spatial variables. 20 body points were manual digitized in all frames. The raw position data were smoothed by the fifth order splines (Woltring, 1986). Results: The mean results of this leap were: The impulsion phase duration was 0.13±0.01 s. The take off velocity was 3.21±0.13 m•s-1 and the angle of release was 59.31±4.15º.The amplitude of the swing leg was 61.2±12.4º. During this phase gymnasts perform a 34.44±11.56º knee extension. The mean flight phase duration was 0.53±0.02 s flight. During the flight gymnasts reached a maximum split angle of 179.3±18.90º. The foot tip achieved a height of 8.7±12.6 cm above shoulder. The angle between the front leg and the horizontal was 12.4±8.9º. Discussion: According to the Code of points the switch leap to ring position have five specific requirements: free leg swing minimum of 45º, reach an amplitude of 180º split, front leg has to reach the horizontal, back foot above shoulder height and arch position of the back (FIG, 2009). This variables except the arch position could be calculated with the 3D analysis kinematics results. As the results of this analysis we detected that 4 gymnasts didn`t reach the requirements of the leap. The principal handicaps to perform all the requirements were: front leg has to reach the horizontal (4 cases) and amplitude of 180º split (2 cases). The designed card exposed these aspects so it can help coaches to focus attention to these specific aspects to achieve a correct leap.
© Copyright 2009 14th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Oslo/Norway, June 24-27, 2009, Book of Abstracts. Veröffentlicht von The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.