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Activities in Physical Education and Sport
2015, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 241-243
COORDINATION ABILITIES AND SELECTION IN
GYMNASTICS
(Research note)
Bonka Dimitrova
National Sports Academy “Vassil Levski” - Sofia,
Department of Gymnastics, Sofia, Bulgaria
Abstract
Coordination skills in gymnastics by professionals include the optimal combination of kinematic and
dynamic parameters of gymnastic exercise. This is the basis of perfection and competitive result in the sport.
The aim of our study was to identify the components of coordination abilities that are crucial in the initial
selection. Gymnastics is a sport in which the level of technical training is directly related to sport skills and the
competition results. In the selection should be aimed toward establishing the level of these components of the
coordination abilities which is genetically dependent. They will not change significantly under the influence of
phenotypic factors, but they are important for gymnastics.
Keywords: kinematic and dynamic parameters of gymnastic, motor tests, expert rating,
sport pedagogues, heredity coefficient
INTRODUCTION
In the scientific and educational-methodological
literature up to now there is no uniform approach for the
definition of coordination abilities. According to some
authors (Hadjiev, Andonov, Dobrev & Petrov (Хаджиев,
Андонов, Добрев & Петров), 2011; Jelyazkov & Dasheva (Желязков & Дашева), 2006) they are relatively
specific automated flow management processes and
variability of movement. For other (Bakulev (Бакулев),
2006; Lyah (Лях), 2010; Kleshtev (Клещев), 1997) presence of motor-coordination abilities results in fast,
accurate, appropriate and effective solution motor tasks.
Some researchers identify them with quality agility.
They define agility as the ability of man to reconcile
(coordinate) his movements and actions in time, space
and effort. Coordination abilities in gymnastics as specialists’ (Hadjiev (Хаджиев), et al., 2011; Nikolaeva
(Николаева), 2006) include optimal combination of
kinematic and dynamic parameters of gymnastic exercise, which is the basis of perfection and competitive
resuls in the sport. That is why they are identified as
necessary talent in the forecasting model of gymnastics.
As the level thereof is high, so the ability to achieve high
performance is higher. This determines the need for the
selection of children with coordination in the groups
for initial training in gymnastics. The aim of our study
was to identify the components of coordination abilities
that are crucial in the initial selection. To achieve this
objective we set ourselves the following tasks:
1.Making a literary analysis of interest problem.
2.Making expert analysis of the components of
coordination abilities.
3.To analyze tests to establish the level of coordination abilities in the initial selection
METHODS
Object of the study are specific coordination abilities
of gymnastics and are subject to tests to determine their
initial level. In the course of the work were the methods
of analysis, comparative analysis and evaluation.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Within the literature it’s been found that some
authors divide the coordination abilities on three groups:
• First group - the ability to precisely control the
spatial, temporal and dynamic motion parameters;
• The second group - the ability to maintain static
and dynamic balance;
• A third group - the ability to perform motor
operation without unnecessary muscle tension.
Coordination abilities included in the first group
depend on the so-called sense of space, time and the
effort applied. In the second group the coordination
abilities are connected with maintaining a stable position
in a pose and movement. Coordination abilities of the
third group have two characteristics - one associated
with muscle tension involved in the static and the other
one with the coordination of muscle groups involved in
the implementation of the engine operation. We believe
that the components of this group developed in the
course of training process and have mostly phenotypic
character.
Manifestation of coordination abilities according to
these authors depends on several factors:

The ability of an individual to accurately analyze their movements;

The complexity of the engine task;

The actions of various analysts, especially one
that is leading in an action;
242
B. Dimitrova

level of other physical properties;

The age;

The overall level of physical preparedness and
others.
The sports teacher must comply with these factors
within the selection and evaluation of motor-coordination abilities.
Kleshtev (Клещев) (1997) identifies four components of coordination abilities - mastery of new exercises,
the ability to distinguish and manage fluctuations, the
ability to improvise and mix in the process of motor
control and originality of the decision of various
motor tasks. For sport gymnastics, a particular attention should be given to the first two. Gymnastics is a
sport in which the level of technical training is directly
related to sport skills and success in competitions. As
the volume of exercise is greater, the coordination
more complex, the result will be higher, ranking will be
better. Therefore, some authors consider that the most
important for gymnastics is the ability to quick explore
new increasingly difficult exercises, as well as the ability
to properly assess the range of motion and muscle effort.
Figure 1. presents the components that according
to the expert assessment of gymnastics specialists are
essential for the realization of gymnastics. Each of
the five has its leading position according to the stage
in the multi-annual training. For the initial period of
particular importance will be the ability for precision
movements, orientation in space and equilibrium
stability. In the early years of sports training, they will
be leaders in motor learning and development of the
components of coordination in general. Analysis of
important gymnastics coordination abilities showed
that coordination of movements of the individual has a
degree of heredity of 55% (Table 1.). This opens up a
great opportunity for their development under the influence of the phenotypic factors. A different picture in
components are the precision movement. Here the value
of the coefficient of heredity could reach up to 95%,
suggesting a very small variation of the initial level
of that component. The muscle coordination value of
79%, allows even limited capability development in this
direction. Therefore, we believe that the selection should
be aimed at establishing the level of these components
of the coordination abilities which are genetically
Table 1. Hereditary coefficient of the
coordination abilities for gymnastics
Coordination abilities
Coordination
precision movements
muscle coordination
Hereditary coefficient - Н
55%
54-95%
43-79%
dependent. They will not change significantly under the
influence of phenotypic factors, which are important for
the exercise to achieve high results.
The selection shall conduct a test to determine
the level of coordination of young athletes. By now,
it’s been made by the coach by selecting the generaly
developing exercise with a certain physical complexity.
In Figure 2. a. and b. are shown a several options. For
a correct assessment of motor-coordination abilities of
young gymnasts, they are placed on an equal footing in
the execution of the exercise. The estimated accuracy
of the repetition has been determined by six-point scale.
Each allowed uncertainty reduces the assessment by
0.50 points. Thus, for two errors it will be 5.00 p.
Analyzing the results of this test revealed the
genetic resources of the child to reproduce exactly the
specified motor action. In fact, only this component
of the coordination abilities we can establish the
implementation of generally developing exercise, but it
is genetically dependent and particularly important for
the sports talent.
Toward selection optimization it would be appropriate to explore other elements of the coordination
structure. The balance is important for gymnastics as
one of the main coordination qualities (Nazarenko
(Назаренко), 2000). It is the ability of an individual
to keep the resistance of the body and its parts within
the supportive and non-supportive phase of the motor operation. Sergienko & Ribakov (Сергиенко &
Рыбаков) (1984) explore the genetic preconditions for
the development of balance and found that the dynamic
balance is influenced less by hereditary factors than the
static balance. Therefore, it’s proposed toward the test of
coordination to add test for establishing the level of static
Fig. 1 Coordination abilities
COORDINATION ABILITIES AND SELECTION...
243
Fig. 2-а . Possible variant of the assessment of motor abilities
Fig. 2-b. Possible variant of the assessment of motor abilities
balance resistance – in a relative time frame. The duration has been measured in seconds. It can be performed
also with closed eyes. Thus, through optimization of the
test for establishing of the level of motor-coordination
of the individual, the preconditions will increase toward
the possibility of finding the young gymnasts who have
reached the top of the sport skills.
CONCLUSIONS
1.Analysis of the literature confirmed complicated
structure of coordination abilities.
2.Analysis of the components of coordination
and evaluation specialists allow to single out the most
important ones within the initial selection in gymnastics.
3.Improving the test to determine the level of
motor-coordination preconditions of the individual will
assist in the selection of talented gymnasts.
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Correspondence:
Bonka Dimitrova “Vassil Levski”
National Sports Academy
Department of Gymnastics
Studentski grad, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria
E-mail:[email protected]
МФК Москва Тука треба издателството)
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