2026-02-27
Bartomiej, Patryk Hes
Trampoline gymnastics is a discipline that requires high motor coordination, precise spatial orientation, and significant lower limb power. One of the most reliable tools for assessing explosive strength is the countermovement jump (CMJ), which enables the analysis of biomechanical parameters of the jump. The aim of the study was to evaluate CMJ parameters in male and female trampoline gymnasts aged 10–13, considering their age and gender. The study included 86 athletes (50 girls and 36 boys) from 12 sports clubs in Poland. Two test variants were performed: with arm swing (CMJ-A) and without arm swing (CMJ), using a Kistler dynamometer platform. Jump height (H), maximum take-off velocity (Vmax), maximum ground reaction force (Fmax), and maximum power (Pmax) were analysed. The results showed a systematic increase in all parameters with age in both genders. Significant statistical differences between girls and boys were observed mainly in the CMJ test without arm swing – in jump height and take-off velocity among 11- and 13-year-olds, and in maximum power among the 10-year-olds. In the younger age groups, girls sometimes achieved higher Fmax values despite lower jump heights, which may be due to different movement strategies. The results confirm that the CMJ test, especially in the version without arm swing, is a useful tool for monitoring the development of lower limb explosive power and can support the process of sport selection in trampoline gymnastics .
2026-02-27
Ivan Čuk
2026-02-27
Jan Horvat, Maja Pajek, Karmen Šibanc
The paper investigates the correlation between the quality of the salto forward tucked on the floor and the jump take-off characteristics. The main biomechanical characteristics of the take-off and their influence on the performance of the salto forward tucked were examined. The task focuses on the movement analysis during the take-off and determines which factors most influence the quality of the performance. Thirteen male gymnasts aged 11-13 were examined, where it is expected that the quality of the take-off and the performance of the salto forward tucked is closely related to the level of skill and motor abilities of the individual. Each of them performed two long jumps, two vertical jumps and two saltos forward tucked. The results of the study showed that the accuracy and quality of the take-off is crucial for achieving the appropriate height, angular velocity and reliable landing, which significantly contributes to the overall success in competitions .
2026-02-27
ALDA REYNO, CATALINA CORONADO
This article critically reflects on the participation of men in Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG), a discipline whose expressive and aesthetic nature has been socially and pedagogically associated with femininity. From a gender perspective, it analyses how sport has operated as a device for reproducing stereotypes, limiting access to certain physical practices based on sexual characteristics. Through a theoretical and historical review, the pedagogical origins of RG are examined, tracing the influence of methods developed by Dalcroze, Bode and Medau and how these influenced its recognition as a sport exclusively for women. The literature review conducted in scientific databases reveals an alarming scarcity of research on the opinion of male participants in RG. These studies present discourses that reveal cultural tensions surrounding the incorporation of men, evidencing acceptance and rejection in different competitive contexts. It is concluded that the effective inclusion of men in this discipline requires not only regulatory modifications, but also an educational approach that breaks down prejudices, stereotypes and gender biases that associate practices with a specific gender. It is argued that RG, far from being an exclusively female practice, constitutes an opportunity to diversify bodily experience, overcome hegemonic models of masculinity and move towards a critical and inclusive physical education .
2025-10-28
Jana Luptáková, Dušan Hamar, Karin Baisová, Stanislav Azor, Ľudmila Kuriplachová
elite artistic gymnasts. Eight female gymnasts (16.0 ± 2.7 years) were compared to a control group of eight untrained peers (15.9 ± .4 years). Over a 4-month preparatory period, the gymnasts underwent training focused on strength, speed, and endurance development. Anaerobic performance was assessed before and after the intervention using the Wingate test, countermovement jumps (with and without arm swing), repeated vertical jumps (10- and 60-second series), and handstand jumps on a contact mat-based ergometer. Key performance indicators included peak and mean power output, fatigue index, jump height, and blood lactate concentration. Statistical analysis was conducted using Wilcoxon T-tests for within-group and Mann-Whitney U-tests for between-group comparisons. Post-training, the gymnasts demonstrated significant improvements (p ≤ .05) in jump height, power output, and fatigue resistance across multiple tests. The control group showed no significant changes, except for a minor increase in mean power output in the 60-second jump test. These findings suggest that targeted gymnastic training during the preparatory phase effectively enhances anaerobic capacity, potentially enabling gymnasts to perform more complex elements and improve overall competitive performance .
2010-02-24
José Ferreirinha, Joana Carvalho, Cristina Côrte-Real, António Silva
The purpose of this study was to evaluate and characterize external load trends related to flight elements in elite level uneven bars routines, based on analyses from 83 uneven bars routines from the world championships and the Olympic Games finals between 1989 and 2004. An observation category was constructed and validated, comprising eleven variables: number, difficulty, direct combinations of 2 and 3 flight elements, execution with straight or closed body configuration, preparatory elements, direction outwards or inwards to the low bar, and execution on the 1st or 2nd phase of the routine. Results showed a significant decrease in the number of preparatory elements, and the number of flight elements outwards from low bar and inwards to low bar significantly changed. With regards to the other observed variables we found no significant differences. Elite gymnasts usually perform 1 or 2 flight elements during uneven bars routines.. The difficulty of flight elements ranged from 1 to 2 D value flight elements in all cycles and gymnasts performed using predominantly closed body configurations. Based on the results it can be concluded that the number, direct combinations, and difficulty of the flight elements contradict what has been reported in the gymnastics literature, where a large increase of variables of external load in uneven bars routines was predicted.
2010-02-24
Bojan Leskošek, Ivan Čuk, István Karácsony, Jernej Pajek, Maja Bučar
Ensuring reliability and validity of judging at artistic gymnastics competitions is difficult. Despite the FIG Men’s Code of Points being changed, there is little evidence to show that these changes have had an effect on judging standards. After the last change to the Code of Points (2008) the second biggest men’s artistic gymnastics competition took place in 2009 - University Games in Belgrade. Data based on judges’ scores were analysed. By last change of the Code of Points the sum of the Difficulty score and the Execution score form the Final score. For the Execution score, which is evaluated by 4 or 6 judges (4-in qualifications and all around, 6 in finals) reliability and validity were calculated (intraclass correlation coefficient, Cronbach’s alpha, Kendall coefficient of concordance W, and a theta coefficient; differences in mean E scores between judges were tested using repeated measures ANOVA. All data was analyzed using SPSS Statistics 17.0. Results show very high reliability (e.g. Cronbach alfa range from 0.92 up to 0.99). Systematic bias in individual judge’s scores and judges’ panels were frequent. Invalidity tends to decrease as competitor numbers increase. Despite good reliability and satisfactory validity of judging at the University Games it should be emphasized that judging quality differs between apparatus, sessions and judges.
2009-05-04
Kamenka Živčić Marković, Darija Omrčen
Forward handspring is an acrobatic element that has been used in competitive gymnastics for many years as one of the basic elements combined with other acrobatic elements with forward rotation of the body. A whole series of quality descriptions of its execution technique can be found in recent literature. Still, scientific research based on the analysis of kinematical and kinetic components, that is, on biomechanical characteristics of its execution are rare. By using the hierarchical cluster analysis and on the basis of relevant kinematical parameters the inter-relationship between teaching methods and acquisition of landing in the forward handspring was analysed. The obtained results show that the teaching methods of the landing phase in forward handspring are highly correlated, and they concur in most of the analysed kinematical parameters. The homogenization of groups and their similarity were achieved on the basis of similar values of parameters determining the technical component of the landing phase execution in forward handspring and relating to the angles between certain body segments.
2009-05-04
Miha Marinšek
In our research we focus on certain characteristics of salto landings that were performed on European Championships 2004. Our goal is to determine characteristics which have influence on the magnitude of the landing mistake. We analyzed saltos which were performed by senior gymnasts (N= 97) who were competing in the qualifications of the European Championships 2004 in Ljubljana. We defined the variables according to a theoretical model for the evaluation of salto landings in the floor exercise. The results show that axis of rotation, number of turns around longitudinal axis, and initial landing height have a significant impact on the magnitude of the landing mistake. The results also show that soft landing is most effective, landing after saltos without twists is optimal with feet together (unless gymnasts' abilities of left and right leg are different) and arms positions at touch down should be upward.