Publication
Longitudinal intra- and inter-individual variability in young swimmers' performance and determinant competition factors
| Summary: | The main purpose of this study was to follow-up the intra- and inter-individual variability of young swimmers’ performance and determinant factors over two competitive seasons. Thirty young swimmers (14 boys: 12.33±0.65 years -old; 16 girls: 11.15±0.55 years-old) were followed-up throughout two consecutive seasons (seven evaluation moments). Performance (100m freestyle), anthropometric, kinematic, hydrodynamic and efficiency features were evaluated. A gender and skill-level effect was observed. Boys improved in a higher amount (%) comparing to girls. Overall, swimmers in skill-level 2 (both genders) presented a higher intra-individual variability. Performance and anthropometrics showed a significant inter-individual variability in most moments, but hydrodynamics, kinematics and efficiency did not. Within each skill-level hydrodynamics, kinematics and efficiency were the variables that showed a high inter-individual va- riability. As a gender and skill-level effect was noticed in an age-group of young swimmers, coaches and practitioners should put the focus in specific and customized training plans for each skill-level of swimmers |
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| Main Authors: | Morais, J.E. |
| Other Authors: | Costa, M.J.; Forte, Pedro; Marques, Mário C.; Silva, A.J.; Marinho, D.A.; Barbosa, Tiago M. |
| Subject: | Young swimmers Seasons' variations Efficiency Stroke mechanics Anthropometrics |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | article |
| Access type: | open access |
| Associated institution: | Instituto Politécnico de Bragança |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | Biblioteca Digital do IPB |
| Summary: | The main purpose of this study was to follow-up the intra- and inter-individual variability of young swimmers’ performance and determinant factors over two competitive seasons. Thirty young swimmers (14 boys: 12.33±0.65 years -old; 16 girls: 11.15±0.55 years-old) were followed-up throughout two consecutive seasons (seven evaluation moments). Performance (100m freestyle), anthropometric, kinematic, hydrodynamic and efficiency features were evaluated. A gender and skill-level effect was observed. Boys improved in a higher amount (%) comparing to girls. Overall, swimmers in skill-level 2 (both genders) presented a higher intra-individual variability. Performance and anthropometrics showed a significant inter-individual variability in most moments, but hydrodynamics, kinematics and efficiency did not. Within each skill-level hydrodynamics, kinematics and efficiency were the variables that showed a high inter-individual va- riability. As a gender and skill-level effect was noticed in an age-group of young swimmers, coaches and practitioners should put the focus in specific and customized training plans for each skill-level of swimmers |
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