The Gymnastics` Code of Points (CP) had great changes after 2006. With a new dimension for competitions evaluation criteria, the traditional ten point score was substituted by the top ten elements of difficulty and maximum ten points of presentation in an exercise (Carrara and Mochizuki, 2011). The aim of this study is to verify the influence of the CP new rules on the systematization of high level men`s gymnastics training. Methods: To understand these alterations, fifteen senior coaches of Brazil, including those working with national team, were questioned about the changes in the CP rules and their respective influence on training. For the interviews, a comparative analysis between the rules of the 2001 and 2006 CP was performed, whose results were used to construct and validate the questionnaire. A questionnaire of 12 items were answered and commented upon. Content analysis was used for evaluation of the comments (Bardin, 2004), where the emerging themes were the training components. Results: The coaches expressed some tendencies toward training changes. In this respect, an increase in training volume to develop elements of higher difficulty in different groups; and intensity increase to execute routines with more elements of higher difficulty, including the dismount was introduced into Physical Preparation. In Technical Preparation a wider element variety and element difficulty of the different groups were necessary. In Tactical Preparation routines involving a larger number of more difficult elements, including dismount, were observed. Discussion: The coaches mentioned that the new rules imply changes in routines composition and noticed new tendencies in training systematization. The main results permit to conclude that the 2006 CP led to changes in routine composition, with the use of a more varied number of elements on the apparatuses. Specifically, floor exercise is the only with maximum presentation time, what requires greater number of elements and acrobatic sequences to earn bonus score. Rings routines require changes in strength training, to develop new elements and connections in static elements. Rings also need a wide range of group elements, and were considered the most complex apparatus to dismount at the routine`s end. Comparing coaches` interviews with international results, Brazil`s team improved from one gymnast classified to 2008 Olympic Games (OG) to three gymnasts in 2012 OG. In world championships hold two medals, 2007 and 2011, on floor exercises and reached on rings its first medal in 2011. It is important to consider that gymnast performances on the different apparatuses are not only conditioned by training characteristics, but also by the gymnast`s individual potential (Arkaev, 2004).
© Copyright 2012 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012. Veröffentlicht von Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.