UDC 796.83
THE MEANS AND METHODS OF STARTING ACTIONS DEVELOPMENT
AMONG SPRINTERS OF MASS CATEGORIES
L.I. Kostynina – doctor of pedagogics, professor
M.O. Markin – assistant lecturer of sports disciplines department
Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University named after I.N. Ulyanov,
Ulyanovsk
e-mail: [email protected]
Keywords: sprint, components, psychophysical readiness, starting position, starting
movements, starting stride.
Annotation. A determinant of a competitive success in many kinds of sport is the
effectiveness of starting actions organization and realization. In sprint starting actions are
considered as an important component of a running technique, which provides optimal conditions
for high competitive results achievement. A low start and a starting stride technique is presented as
a system organized, dynamically interacting unity of different components of the starting actions,
the functioning of which is determined by the aim within the maximum short time period of the
maximum competitive speed. Variability and reliability achievement of a low start and a starting
stride fulfillment is the system forming factor of sprinters’ (of different qualifications) technical
readiness.
The created approaches analysis, directed at sprinters’ low start and a starting stride
technique development, proves the urgency of this problem.
Research methods: a scientific-methodical literature analysis and summarizing, a
pedagogical experiment, testing, statistical data manipulation.
Materials. New approaches to a technique of a low start and a starting stride development
among sprinters of mass categories are considered, the use of which provides an opportunity to
form an individual technique of starting actions, to create the technologies of sprinters’ training.
Results. The results of the experiment prove the effectiveness of the offered methodical
approaches. After the pedagogical experiment the sportsmen from the EG are characterized by a
reliable indices increase of physical, special, technical readiness, by the improvement of the
competitive activity.
The offered methodology of a low start and a starting stride technique development among
sprinters of mass categories, taking into account the structure and content of the starting actions,
provides the qualitative parameters of a start and a starting stride fulfillment on the basis of a
rational combination of the means and methods of intellectual qualities development; skills
formation of pre-starting state management and regulation; special power and speed-power
qualities development; a video analysis and the system of motional mindsets use, which accompany
special running, jumping exercises, algorithmic methodical instructions condition formation of a
realized activity based approach of a sportsman to the process of a technical development.
Conclusion. Projection and realization of the development process of a low start and a
starting stride technique on the basis of a structure and a content revelation of the starting actions
provides an effective choice of means and methods of a technical training, an opportunity to fulfill
a self- control and the starting actions management, the achievement of the set parameters of the
starting technique. This approach can be successfully realized in the training process of the
sportsmen of different sports qualifications.
Introduction. The ability to realize effectively the starting actions provides the
effectiveness of a competitive exercise fulfillment in many kinds of athletics (sprint, broad jumping,
high jumping), acyclic and cyclic kinds of sport (artistic gymnastics, acrobatics, tobogganing, short
track and others), the effectiveness of technical-tactical actions in sport games. Sprint, a starting
technique and a starting stride technique formation as the main component of a sprint technique is a
compulsory part of physical upbringing programs for the students on all levels of physical
education, sports training in many kinds of sport [3, 7, 8].
The aim of this research work is a low start and a starting stride technique development
among sprinters at an educational-training stage, taking into account the structure and content of
the starting actions.
The objectives of the research work:
1. To reveal the structure and content of the starting actions of sprinters on the basis of the
structural-functional approach.
2. To create and to substantiate experimentally the methodologies of a low start and a
starting stride technique development among sprinters of mass categories, taking into account the
structure and content of the starting actions.
Research methods: a scientific-methodical literature theoretical analysis and summarizing;
a pedagogical experiment; physical, special and technical readiness testing; mathematical- statistical
methods.
Research results and their discussion. Sprint effectiveness is provided by a rational
technique formation of the starting actions, creating conditions for speed obtaining and upkeep; by
the ability formation to mobilize psychic and physical efforts at finish. The qualitative parameters
of the starting actions fulfillment determine the initial conditions of any sports qualification
sprinters running effectiveness.
A low start and a starting stride technique is presented as a system organized, dynamically
interacting unity of different components of the starting actions, the functioning of which is
determined by the aim within the maximum short time period of the maximum competitive speed.
The results of the research works reveal the methodical approaches to a low start and a starting
stride technique development, mainly, among qualified sprinters [1, 2, 4-8, 11-13]. The questions,
connected with the study of peculiarities of the starting actions realization by sprinters of mass
categories, are not discussed enough in special research works and it doesn’t provide the continuity
of the methodologies of a low start and a starting stride technique formation and development and
is a restrictive factor for competitive results improvement. Thus, the solution of this scientificpractical problem becomes very urgent for the progress of sports results in sprint.
The starting actions provide an opportunity to start the running, for example in the cyclic
kinds of sport or are the initial during specific motional actions realization in acyclic and situational
kinds of sport. During the research work a notion “starting actions” was concretized, considered as
sequentially realized complex of motional actions of a sportsman, which provides the conditions for
the effective running and a maximum speed increase in accordance with the solved motional
objectives in a definite kind of sport. A component structure of the starting actions, their content is
conditioned by the specificity of the solved motional objectives in a chosen kind of sport. The
starting actions of sprinters include the following components: psychophysical readiness, the
starting position, the starting movements, the starting stride [9, 10].
A sprinter’s psychophysical state optimization is one of the most important conditions of
effective starting actions organization and their realization. The component “Psychophysical
readiness” provides an opportunity to concentrate attention at pre-starting actions, high competitive
result achievement, irrespective of judges’, opponents’ actions, spectators’ reaction, inner psychic
tension and other factors. The choice of the means and methods of psychophysical readiness
formation is conditioned by neurodynamic, typological peculiarities of the central nervous system,
by the competitive experience, by the level of training.
“The starting position” is the key component in the structure of the sprinter’s starting
actions, which provides the sequence of the starting pose change, taken at the command “Ready” to
the starting pose taken at the command “Set”. During the first phase a sportsman’s actions are
directed at the search for a steady balanced position of the body at the starting blocks; the choice of
an optimal hands position and the position of the body masses general center and it conditions an
opportunity to reallocate timely muscles efforts during the moment of the starting pose change at
the command “Set”. The second phase is known for a body position, which provides the steadiness
of a starting pose, more favorable conditions creation for a starting stride. A sportsman should
clearly understand his body position, the character of muscular efforts reallocation and define the
activity regimen, which provides an optimal correlation of stimulation and inhibition processes, a
steady (balanced) position at the starting blocks, motional and sensory actions synchronization.
“Starting movements” include synchronized in time movements of the acyclic and cyclic
character, fulfilled according to the starting signal. An anticipatory start of hands movements, a
push-off from the starting blocks, a quick movements relocation and the first 2-3 running steps
fulfillment in terms of inevitable gravitational forces conditions the difficulty of this component of
the starting actions. The effectiveness of the first running steps is conditioned by the influence of
different biomechanisms and is provided by the harmonious work of the kinematic chain “a body- a
hip – a crus –a foot”.
“The starting stride” in sprint provides maximum speed. Each following running step
during starting stride is differentiated by the biodynamic structure, by kinematic characteristics.
During a rational tempo- rhythmic structure formation of a running step in the starting stride it is
necessary to take into account a sportsman’s anthropometric characteristics, the level of speedpower qualities development, muscular power and other factors.
Qualitative sides of the starting actions are provided by the simultaneous realization of
several motor programs (for a current component of the starting actions and the following one), by
their succession. The components development of the starting actions is possible in case of the
following conditions:
- the selection of special- preparatory exercises, which correspond to the structure of the
starting actions, their rational planning in the training process;
− the correction of the biodynamic, kinematic characteristics of the fulfilled starting actions,
taking into consideration the model parameters of the low start and the starting stride technique;
- the skills formation of orientation in spatio-temporal and spatio-power parameters of the
motional actions on the basis of the system of motional mindsets, visual orienting points and marks,
audible and light signals;
- the skills formation of the psychophysical state regulation and management;
− special knowledge mastering, the leading intellectual qualities development (perception,
locomotory memory, analytic skills ), which provide a model notion formation of the low start and
the starting stride technique;
− the level of special power, speed-power qualities increase.
A pedagogical control and timely correction of the starting actions parameters fulfillment
on the basis of the video analysis, motional mindsets, which go with the special running, jumping
exercises, starting actions fulfillment condition the ability to achieve the low start and the starting
stride technique steadiness.
The choice of special- preparatory, special running and jumping exercises should provide
the correspondence of the fulfilled muscular efforts character, spatio-temporal parameters of the key
elements fulfillment of the motional actions to the technique of starting actions, skills formation of
each technique component rational fulfillment. During the training process sportsmen should master
special knowledge on the criteria of the starting pose optimality, kinematic characteristics of the
starting actions, the running steps in the starting stride. The factors revelation, which provide
qualitative parameters of the start and the starting stride fulfillment, the analysis of preparatory
exercises, the use of algorithmic methodical instructions condition the formation of the purposeful
activity based approach of a sportsman to the process of technical development.
The variants of alternation in the training special-preparatory, special-running exercises,
fulfilled with poundage and without it; the intervals of the active rest programming (stretching,
respiratory gymnastics, walking, not intensive running) should provide the ability formation to
preserve optimal speed of exercises fulfillment without a structure and quality of motional actions
violation, taking into account changing conditions of the training-competitive activity, the change of
the psychophysical state (growing tiredness, unstable psychoemotional state and others).
The success of starting movements realization is conditioned by the correspondence of
biodynamic, kinematic characteristics of the fulfilled starting actions to the model parameters of the
low start and the starting stride technique fulfillment. At the educational-training stage the sprinters
of mass categories have the skills of starting actions fulfillment, the question is in their effectiveness
and their ability to provide an opportunity to achieve high competitive result. Timely correction of
the starting technique on the basis of the video analysis of the starting actions and the comparative
analysis provides the sprinter’s realization of model demands to starting actions fulfillment and the
degree of correspondence of fulfilled by him technique of the start and the starting stride.
The use of different visual orienting points and marks, audible and light signals of urgent
information conditions an opportunity to remember and reproduce accurate muscular feelings,
temporal, spatio-power parameters of motional actions, the development of tempo-rhythmic
structure of the starting actions; broadens the variability of the used training means on the basis of
fulfillment change conditions. The use of motional mindsets in the form a phrase brings the
sportsman’s attention to key elements of starting actions, provides the quality of the realized
starting actions on the basis of the purposeful muscular activity control and management. The
content of motional mindsets and tasks is determined by the peculiarities of motional programs
formation, which provide interconnection and succession of starting actions, taking into
consideration competitive activity, the sportsman’s individual characteristics. The trainer’s word,
accuracy of the methodical instructions provide the unity of performing, orientation and controlcorrectional base of sprinters’ low start and starting stride technique formation.
A sprinter’s psychophysical readiness to fulfill the competitive exercise is provided by his
ability to use effectively psychological-pedagogical means, directed at the psychic state correction,
a motional potential mobilization on the basis of the following problems solution: real self-appraisal
of psychophysical readiness formation; real psychological mindset formation to realize starting
actions. The skills of self-regulation formation and sprinters’ of mass categories psychic state
management skills formation is realized according to two stages: at the first stage sportsmen master
knowledge on the psychological training content, get acquainted with the methods of pre-starting
states self-regulation, see the necessity to form skills of the psychic state management as the main
condition for an effective starting actions realization. At the second stage the skills of the psychic
state self-regulation are formed during the process of independent lessons, sports training, by means
of participation in different competitions. During the discussion with the trainer the peculiarities of
the psychic state change during competitive activity are revealed; the reasons, which condition the
feeling of anxiety, nervous- psychic tension formation, partial lack of control over motional actions
are discussed; the content of the used methods of self-regulation are corrected.
Mastering the ways of the cognitive activity organization, the level of special knowledge
increase, psychic functions development (perception, attention, locomotory memory, analytic skills
) are the main conditions for the further technical development. It is reasonable to use different
pedagogical mindsets, self-orders in the training process, providing opportunity to be attentive, to
remember and fulfill constant control over the accuracy of perception and reproduction of spatiotemporal and power parameters of motional actions. Repeated running with the mindset on time, a
set frequency of steps, steps length, intensity (with time control using stop-watch and without
control; running using marking and without it; running according to the set rhythm – independent
reproduction from memory) helps to develop the process of memorization of the rhythmic, spatiotemporal, dynamic parameters of the running step. Polymodality of the running step technique
perception, its memorization condition the formation of speed feeling among sportsmen, ability to
control separate parameters of starting and starting stride technique, taking into account inner and
outer factors, to achieve the planned results. During the process of mutual analysis and discussion
with the trainer the ways of the set aims of training achievement, definite results estimation a
sportsman actualizes the received knowledge, mastering different notions and terms. This
conditions a further opportunity to create logical constructions and a theoretical model, the notion
of motional action, the way of the set problem solution (technical, tactical and others) and an
opportunity to fulfill a range of intellectual operations, which provide a practical reproduction of
model in real conditions of training, competitions.
Thus, rational technique of the low start and the starting stride formation among mass
categories sprinters, accuracy of fulfillment achievement in terms of the competitive activity are
possible in case of the training process realization, taking into account the revealed conditions,
means and methods of starting actions development, and it is proved by pedagogical experiment
results.
In order to substantiate experimentally the methodical approaches to starting actions
development among mass categories sprinters on the basis of physical culture and sport faculty in
Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University a pedagogical experiment was held. 28 sportsmen (sports
qualification of the III-II category, 16-20 years old) took part in the experiment. The control group
(CG) and the experimental group (EG) were created, each included 14 people. In the CG the
training lessons were held in accordance with the demands of typical program of sports training for
sports schools for children and teenagers a model, for specialized sports schools for children and
teenagers of the Olympic reserve and for schools of a higher sportsmanship, recommended by the
federation of athletics. In the EG the training process was realized in accordance with the aims and
objectives of the educational-training stage, taking into account the content of the created
methodology of starting actions development.
Before the pedagogical experiment there were not revealed considerable changes in the
sportsmen’s indices of physical, special, technical readiness in the CG and the EG. After the
pedagogical experiment physical readiness indices improved in both groups, with a more
considerable increase of muscular power indices, speed and speed-power qualities among the
sprinters from the EG. In the CG in standing long-jump with the initial indices 243,5±2,62
centimeters the increase was to 1,71% (р>0,05); in the EG with the initial results 243,4±2,32
centimeters the increase was 7,05% (р<0,05). In the CG in triple standing broad jump with the
initial indices 716,8±10,70 centimeters the increase was to 1,53% (р>0,05); in the EG with the
initial results 716,5±8,48 centimeters the increase was 3,98% (р<0,05). In special test exercises,
characterizing quickness, speed qualities, in the CG in the exercise “scissors jump” the indices
increased to 9,06% (р<0,05); in the EG the increase was 18,61% (р<0,01). The same tendency is
seen in the exercise “running in place in 12 seconds”. In 30 meters running in the CG the increase
was 2,35%; in the EG - 3,86% (р<0,05).
After the pedagogical experiment in the CG the indices increase of the starting and the
starting stride technique was 5,37% (р>0,05); in the EG with the initial results 3,67±0,06 points the
increase was 8,47 % (р<0,05). In an integral test of effectiveness evaluation of the starting actions
(CEESA) in the CG with the initial data 46,46±1,06 conventional units at the end of the
pedagogical experiment the indices increase was 2,35% (р>0,05). In the EG with the initial results
46,97±1,48 conventional units the increase was 6,30% (р<0,05). In 30 meters running from low
start in the CG the results improved to 1,25%; in the EG the increase was 5,28% (р<0,05). A
reliable increase of the competitive results in 100 meters running, 200 meters running among the
sportsmen from the EG proves the effectiveness of the offered approaches.
Conclusion. Thus, projection and realization of the development process of the low start and
the starting stride technique on the basis of structure and content revelation of the starting actions
provides an effective choice of means and methods of a technical training, an opportunity to fulfill
self- control and the starting actions management, the achievement of the set parameters of the
starting technique. This approach can be successfully realized in the training process of the
sportsmen of different sports qualifications.
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