Game stretching as a modern means of developing the flexibility of 5–6-year-old female gymnasts

Abstract

Purpose: to prove the effectiveness of the technique of game stretching to increase the level of development of flexibility in female gymnasts aged 5-6 years. Material & Methods: the study involved 30 female athletes aged 5-6 years who are engaged in rhythmic gymnastics. According to the results of the initial testing, a group of female gymnasts was divided into control (n=15) and main (n=15), taking into account the absence of significant differences in the indicators of flexibility tests. Both groups of young gymnasts trained in accordance with the curriculum for the Youth Sports School in rhythmic gymnastics (1999). In the training sessions of female athletes of the main group, a specially developed technique of game stretching was in-cluded, aimed at developing flexibility. Results: the obtained results of the study give grounds to assert that the proposed methodology, by which female gymnasts of the main group (MG) trained, contributed to a more pronounced (p<0,05; p<0,01) increase in the level of flexibility development compared to the results of female athletes control group (CG), who trained according to the traditional flexibility development program. So in tests T1 “Extension in the knee joints” (cm); T2 “Twisting the stick” (cm); T4 “Gymnastic bridge” (points) significant differences in test scores were found with a probability of 99% at p≤0.01. In tests T3 “Backward bend in lying position” (cm); T5 “Performing splits on the right”, (points) and T6 “Performing splits on the left”, (points) there were also found significant differences in indicators with a probability of 95% at p≤0.05 between the main and control groups. However, in the T7 test “Performance of transverse splits” (points), an unreliable difference was obtained between the performance of the gymnasts of the main and control groups (p>0,05), although an improvement in the results in this test was observed in both groups. Conclusions: the results of the study showed the effectiveness of the method of game stretching to increase the level of development of flexibility in female gymnasts 5-6 years old. The technique contributed to a more pronounced (p<0,05; p<0,01) increase in the level of development of flexibility among female athletes of the main group (MG) compared with the results of female gymnasts in the control group (CG). So, in tests T1 “Extension in the knee joints” (cm); T2 “Twisting the stick” (cm); T4 “Gymnastic bridge” (points) significant differences in test scores were found with a probability of 99% at p≤0,01. In tests T3 “Backward bend in lying position” (cm); T5 “Performing splits on the right”, (points) and T6 “Performing splits on the left”, (points) there were also found significant differences in indicators with a probability of 95% at p≤0,05 between the main and control groups. The results obtained allow us to recommend the developed methodology for use in the training process of young gymnasts at the stage of initial training. And test exercises were applied that are not included in the Curriculum, such as T1 “Extension in the knee joints” (cm); T2 “Twisting the stick” (cm); T3 “Backward bend in lying position” (cm) is quite informative and can be used to control the flexibility of gymnasts at all stages of preparation. At the final stage of the study, after 6 months of training according to the developed methodology using the means of game stretching, a re-testing of the development of flexibility of young female gymnasts of the main and control groups was carried out. The results obtained are presented in table 2. At the final stage of the study, the evaluation of the effectiveness of the developed methodology was carried out using the non-parametric Rosenbaum criterion, which made it possible to analyze the reliability of differences in the average statistical values of the indicators of the level of development of the flexibility of young athletes from the main and control groups. In fact, the results of all tests revealed reliable changes in the obtained characteristics. So in tests T1 “Extension in the knee joints” (cm); T2 “Twisting the stick” (cm); T4 “Gym-nastic bridge” (points) significant differences in test scores were found with a probability of 99% at p≤0,01. In tests T3 “Backward bend in lying position” (cm); T5 “Performing splits on the right”, (points) and T6 “Performing splits on the left”, (points) there were also found significant differences in indicators with a probability of 95% at p≤0,05 between the main and control groups. However, in the T7 test “Performance of transverse splits” (points), an unreliable difference was obtained between the performance of female gymnasts in the main and control groups (p>0,05), although an improvement in the results in this test was observed in both groups. This may be due to the specificity and complexity of the work on flexibility when teaching splits. To improve the result when performing this exercise, specially directed gymnastic means are needed. However, the obtained significant changes in the results of six tests prove the effectiveness of the proposed method using the means of game stretching to increase the flexibility level of female gymnasts 5-6 years old. Discussion In the course of the study, results were obtained that confirm and complement the developments of domestic and foreign scientists on topical issues of rhythmic gymnastics. Thus, the theoretical positions formulated in the works of Miroshnichenko (2006), Rutkauskaite and Skarbalius (2012), Montosa et al. (2018), Deyneko and Shevchuk (2019) that rhythmic gymnastics is a very specific sport, not only techni-cally, but also physically, therefore, it requires a high level of preparedness from female gymnasts. Confirmed data from both Ukrainian and foreign experts (Stadnik et al., 2010; So-sina & Ruda, 2019) that the vast majority of elements, namely jumps, balances, turns and tilts, should be performed with the maximum amplitude, requiring from female gymnasts of the optimal level of development of mobility of the spine, hip and shoulder joints. The results of a study by Sosina and Ruda (2009) showed that female gymnasts should show a high level of flexibility in 95% of bends, 78% of jumps, 60% of balances and 58% of turns. Therefore, without an appropriate manifestation of mobility in the joints, gymnasts will not be able to per-form at a high technical level, naturally, virtuously and expres-sively, a competitive composition and show a sufficient sports result (Sosina & Ruda, 2009; Semyzorova & Krasova, 2021). This position is also confirmed by the studies of Bordalo et al. (2015), Polat and Gunay (2016). In this regard, the natu-ral desire of specialists (Andreeva, 2010; Deyneko & Bilenka, 2021; Semyzorova & Krasova, 2021) to solve the problems of improving the quality and efficiency of the training process in rhythmic gymnastics on the development of flexibility. Based on scientific research by Miletić et al. (2004), So-sina and Ruda (2009), Andrieva (2010), Bordalo et al. (2015), Polat and Günay (2016), Semyzorova and Krasova (2021) confirmed the data that the proper level of flexibility of female athletes is a prerequisite for the effective performance of all basic gymnastic elements – jumps, balances, turns and bends. An analysis of literature sources (Danish, 2002; Nec-hyporuk et al., 2016; Deyneko, 2017; Deyneko et al., 2021; Deineko et al., 2022; Quan Bai, 2022) revealed a unanimous opinion of domestic and foreign experts regarding 5-6 years are in the “play period”, the game becomes more imaginative, logical and social, creating the prerequisites for consolidat-ing motor skills and developing physical qualities. The results of the conducted studies supplement the data of Sosina and Ruda (2009), Andryeyeva (2010), Bobo-Arce and Méndez-Rial (2013), Bordalo et al. (2015), Polat and Günay (2016), Semyzorova and Krasova (2021) et al., on the use of flexibility development tools and methods used in rhythmic gymnastics training sessions. The analysis of foreign scientific literature allows us to state that since the early 1980s, static stretching has been considered an effective method of increasing the range of motion and flexibility, reducing the risk of injury during exercise (Shrier, 2005; Kay et al., 2015; et al., 2017; Konrad et al., 2017). We also agree with Boligon et al. (2015) that the level of development of flexibility directly affects the performance of various movements that provide a higher technical level of female gymnasts and, as a result, improve sports results. It is important to note that in recent years, new modern types of physical activity have been widely spread all over the world, one of which is stretching. Biletsʹka et al. (2015) con-sider «Stretching» as a system of specially fixed positions of certain parts of the body, that is, static stretching. Issues of stretching are also discussed by foreign scientists. Thus, nu-merous studies (Kay et al., 2015; Konrad et al., 2017) indicate that static stretching is widely used in sports practice in order to sharply increase the range of motion of the joint. As you know, flexibility must be developed from the moment of early specialization in all sports, including rhythmic gymnastics. Therefore, such a sparing and effective mode of muscle work, which meets the specifics of game stretching exercises, is quite suitable for developing the flexibility of female gymnasts at the stage of initial training. The analysis of the scientific and methodological literature (Rukhlyvi ihry: z metodykou vykla-dannya, 2014; Deyneko, 2017; Deyneko et al., 2021; Deineko et al. 2022) confirms the effectiveness of using the game method at the stage of initial training in gymnastic sports Conclusions The results of the study showed the effectiveness of the game stretching technique for increasing the level of development of flexibility in female gymnasts aged 5-6 years. The technique contributed to a more pronounced (p<0,05; p<0,01) increase in the level of development of flexibility among athletes of the main group (MG) compared with the results of gymnasts from the control group (CG). So, in tests T1 “Extension in the knee joints” (cm); T2 “Twisting the stick” (cm); T4 “Gymnastic bridge” (points) significant differences in test scores were found with a probability of 99% at p≤0.01. In tests T3 “Backward bend in lying position” (cm); T5 “Perform-ing splits on the right”, (points) and T6 “Performing splits on the left”, (points) there were also found significant differences in indicators with a probability of 95% at p≤0,05 between the main and control groups. The results obtained allow us to recommend the developed methodology for use in the train-.