Features of physical development of young athletes in complex coordination sports as a prerequisite for the development of health-saving technologies (using cheerleading as an example)

Abstract

Introduction. According to the specialised literature, in the process of long-term training, the transition from one age and qualification group to another depends on the interrelation of two most important processes – biological development and formation of sportsmanship. Experts indicate that in this regard, the trainer should systematically use the indicator of biological maturity (age) for the purpose of both a continuous selection process and control over its training and management. With accelerated development, the process of biological (sexual) maturation (acceleration) begins early, occurs quickly and is completed quickly. At the same time, there are accelerated rates of development of certain physical qualities. The lagging type (retardation) includes children and adolescents with late signs of biological maturation, slower rates of physical development. Experts are also actively discussing the problems of improving the theory and practice of sports training for children, adolescents and young people.

The purpose of the study is to determine the peculiarities of physical development of 6-8 year old girls cheerleaders involved in the experiment as a prerequisite for the development of health-saving technologies.

Experimental studies were conducted at the Department of Kinesiology and Sports Rehabilitation of the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport, CheerNika Cheerleading School (Kyiv) from January 2019 to October 2023. Participants of the study. The experiment involved 27 cheerleaders aged 6-8. The research was conducted in compliance with the requirements of the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki “Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects”.

Research methods. Theoretical – for studying and substantiating the fundamental provisions of the research, outlining its problem field. Pedagogical observation as a method of empirical research – to get acquainted with the process of organising training classes of initial training groups. On the basis of generally accepted and scientifically based anthropometric methods of research, the weight (kg) and length (cm) of the body, sitting body length (cm), arm length (cm), leg length (cm), foot length (cm), arm span (cm), chest circumference (cm) were determined. To determine the types of posture, the “APECS AI” programme was used; pedagogical experiment; methods of mathematical statistics.

The results. In the research process the dynamics and growth rates of physical development indicators of girls cheerleaders of 6-8 years old were studied. According to the data obtained, the growth rate of physical development of 6-8 year old cheerleaders is less than 15%. It has been determined that almost all indicators of physical development, except for chest circumference, differ statistically significantly (p < 0,05) in the age aspect. The Shapiro-Wilk W-test was used to check for normality, and the Kolmohorov-Smirnov consistency test was used to refine the results.

Conclusions. The differences of anthropometrical indicators and biogeometrical profile of girls-charlidians of 6-8 years old with different types of posture were determined by means of the median criterion (all angular characteristics have statistically significant differences depending on the type of posture (p = 0,000-0,017). It should be noted that body weight, body length, leg length and foot length of sportswomen with different types of posture differed at the given level of statistical significance (p = 0,077-0,088).