State-of-the-art Beyond the systematic demands of coaches, numerous evaluation devices already exist allowing the observation of frequency and speed in cyclic sports such as swimming and cycling. As well as providing basic information, eventual kinetics can be discovered through the contemporary acquisition of precise movement speed and cyclic rate. In effect, the distance moved per cycle (strides, stride length, cycle length, paddle stroke length…) as well as certain indications on the efficiency which are important to coaches, are immediately calculated. These measurements carried out on various cyclic sports since 1976 are rejected from a technical point of view by researchers, coaches and even the public as they are easily transformed into essential methods of the performance. Therefore, more complex systems are being developed to analyse both quickly and validly, cyclic parameters in their temporal context. Essentially, the most common types of timing equipment used are stopwatches (for coaches) or timing devices (for organisers, researchers, public) linked to electronic pace meters. Several other methods attempt to solve timing problems through video analysis where the duration (n° of cycles) is observed and the speed established through referring to the number of images per second. If the analysis is more or less meticulous according to the methods used, these techniques only allow post-event analysis as well as being expensive in terms of material and work-load. The Sport Information Technology Laboratory at INSEP created in 1994 is now regarded by the sporting world (Federations, SEPO) as an expert structure in the creation, validation and utilisation of computer applications (NATAVIT, AQUACYCLES) for training and in the study of relationships between cyclic parameters and speed. The current software and electronic know-how of this laboratory allows the development of multiple computer timing devices which communicate through local or distant information and allow analysis comparable to that of computer-video systems. Objectives The evolution of the demands of major sporting competitions (World Championships, Olympic Games) have demonstrated that these techniques will become essential in fulfilling the everincreasing needs of the coach, analyst, organiser, specialised journalist and public. This practical study, using data transfer software, will allow us to look at all the various information technology solutions which manage in "real-time²", the problems of timing (from 1 to x virtual stopwatches) related to the parameters involved in cyclic sports. The solutions available through this initial study will allow the future development of specific prototypes ranging from a simple virtual timing system (using a PC or PDA) to highly sophisticated computer material and software. The latter could allow analysis of several athletes or moving objects over several distant observation zones, at a range of several hundred metres and allow the real-time analysis and processing of the data into an understandable format for the different types of public concerned.
© Copyright 2002 Expertise in Elite sport. 2nd International Days of Sport Sciences, 12.-15. November 2002, INSEP, Paris (France). Veröffentlicht von INSEP. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.