Underwater fly kick development in swimming using a skill-acquisition intervention: a pilot study
Underwater fly kick development in swimming using a skill-acquisition intervention: a pilot study
Within coach education programmes, training periodization focusses upon the manipulation of training intensity and volume with consideration to the physiological and physical loading experienced by the athlete. Swimming coaches tend to use targeted drills to develop skills, but these focus on short-term performance rather than longer-term learning, and do not have scientific grounding. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a four-week intervention on underwater fly kick performance. Ethical approval was granted by the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton. The intervention, based upon skill-acquisition frameworks, consisted of four key stages working through coordination, skill adaptability, movement variability and performance stability training. Potential interventions relating to each stage were collated and this library was provided to the swimming coach as a framework. Nine national level male participants attended two data collection sessions exactly four weeks apart. Ten reflective markers were placed on key bony land-marks, and a six camera Qualisys motion capture system (100 Hz) recorded kinematics. Within the intervention group, improved underwater fly kick performance was observed through increased average and peak horizontal swimming velocity (2%, P = 0.04 and 4%, P = 0.02 respectively). Kick frequency increased (11%, P = 0.00) and the kick became more symmetrical (4% decreased up-beat duration and 39% reduced difference between up and down-beat toe velocities, P = 0.02 and P = 0.00 respectively). Ankle range of motion reduced (P = 0.01) and peak knee extension increased (P = 0.00). The results indicate that the four-week intervention improved underwater fly kick performance, providing evidence for the structured implementation of skill training theory-driven practices in underwater fly kick coaching.
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Thompson, Isobel
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Logan, Oliver
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Hudson, Dominic
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Warner, Martin
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Banks, Joseph
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13 November 2023
Thompson, Isobel
e728d2cf-275b-4ee4-9663-d3e9654a9c33
Logan, Oliver
8cc519e5-d203-450b-bc70-6c7005f2c13b
Hudson, Dominic
3814e08b-1993-4e78-b5a4-2598c40af8e7
Warner, Martin
f4dce73d-fb87-4f71-a3f0-078123aa040c
Banks, Joseph
3e915107-6d17-4097-8e77-99c40c8c053d
Thompson, Isobel, Logan, Oliver, Hudson, Dominic, Warner, Martin and Banks, Joseph
(2023)
Underwater fly kick development in swimming using a skill-acquisition intervention: a pilot study.
Journal of Sports Sciences, 41, .
(doi:10.1080/02640414.2023.2258666).
Record type:
Meeting abstract
Abstract
Within coach education programmes, training periodization focusses upon the manipulation of training intensity and volume with consideration to the physiological and physical loading experienced by the athlete. Swimming coaches tend to use targeted drills to develop skills, but these focus on short-term performance rather than longer-term learning, and do not have scientific grounding. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a four-week intervention on underwater fly kick performance. Ethical approval was granted by the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton. The intervention, based upon skill-acquisition frameworks, consisted of four key stages working through coordination, skill adaptability, movement variability and performance stability training. Potential interventions relating to each stage were collated and this library was provided to the swimming coach as a framework. Nine national level male participants attended two data collection sessions exactly four weeks apart. Ten reflective markers were placed on key bony land-marks, and a six camera Qualisys motion capture system (100 Hz) recorded kinematics. Within the intervention group, improved underwater fly kick performance was observed through increased average and peak horizontal swimming velocity (2%, P = 0.04 and 4%, P = 0.02 respectively). Kick frequency increased (11%, P = 0.00) and the kick became more symmetrical (4% decreased up-beat duration and 39% reduced difference between up and down-beat toe velocities, P = 0.02 and P = 0.00 respectively). Ankle range of motion reduced (P = 0.01) and peak knee extension increased (P = 0.00). The results indicate that the four-week intervention improved underwater fly kick performance, providing evidence for the structured implementation of skill training theory-driven practices in underwater fly kick coaching.
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More information
Published date: 13 November 2023
Additional Information:
D1.S3.2(5)
Venue - Dates:
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science Conference, Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry, United Kingdom, 2023-11-15 - 2023-11-17
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 492333
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/492333
ISSN: 0264-0414
PURE UUID: 471bb94f-dd97-4e11-8e84-322de0aa60ce
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Date deposited: 24 Jul 2024 16:36
Last modified: 27 Jul 2024 02:08
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Author:
Isobel Thompson
Author:
Oliver Logan
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