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Biomechanical analysis of the technical execution of

the ballet figure in athletes of the Artistic

Swimming team of the EIDE school of Villa Clara.

Nathaly Palacio López1,

Juan Manuel Perdomo Ogando2

Central

University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas. Faculty of Physical Culture

1

Bachelor's

degree

in

Physical

Culture,

Sports

Coach

in

Artistic

Swimming,

nnatacionartistica@gmail.com

;

Orcid:

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8857-3509;

2

Doctor

of

Pedagogical

Sciences,

Full

Professor,

Principal

Professor

of

Biomechanics,

Principal

Professor

of

the

Academic

Year,

jpogando@uclv.cu

;

Orcid:

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0786-885x

.

Abstract

Artistic

swimming

is

a

competitive

and

elite

aquatic

sport

worldwide.

Its

regulations

emphasize the use of innovative techniques, skills, and beauty in its execution. In recent

years, the results of the Villa Clara school team during their participation in provincial and

national competitions have not been satisfactory, presenting difficulties in the execution of

compulsory

figures

and

free

routines

—

important

aspects

that

currently

require

improvement. Therefore, this research was directed at: conducting a biomechanical analysis

of the technical execution of the compulsory ballet figure in athletes from the team. After

applying different research methods and techniques for conducting biomechanical studies,

and with the help of motion analysis software, it was possible to determine some kinematic

characteristics

present

in

the

behavior

of

this

execution.

The

results

showed

that

the

athletes' main deficiencies lie in a lack of body control in relation to the horizontal position

in the water, failing to fully extend their legs and demonstrating the need to exert greater

force at the hip point to prevent sinking. aspects that the coaches valuedof great use and

viability for improving the competitive results feasible for youruse as a basic element in the

reorientation

of

training,

preparation

and

improvement

of

technique

in

the

Villa

Clara

school team.

Keywords:

Artistic swimming, technical execution, ballet

Introduction

Artistic Swimming (called Synchronized Swimming in the last four years) is a competitive

aquatic

art

sport

that

combines

different

techniques

and

involves

harmony

and

synchronization

of

movements

with

music,

developing

physical,

flexibility,

and

coordination skills such as strength, coordination, rhythm, perception, acrobatics, and body

awareness. It is a complete expressive component of the body that unites all the technical

and artistic aspects in an aquatic environment.

It is considered the most modern expression of aquatic sports, regarded by many as an art

requiring

great

skill,

in

which

movements

are

performed

with

aesthetic

appeal,

demonstrating

a

strong

sense

of

balance

and

rhythm.

Precision

and

clean

execution

are

essential, as is absolute control of the body in the water.

The

control

of

movements

is

characterized

by

great

complexity,

variety

and

delicacy,

manifests great physical capacity and muscular strength, strength that is inextricably linked

to flexibility, requires a high stability of the vestibular apparatus for the performance of

rapid

and

prolonged

turns,

orientation

in

space

is

also

of

great

importance,

and

it

also

requires an exact dosage of muscular effort and respiratory capacity.

A current deficiency is the decrease in the quality of execution of the different figures to be

performed

by

the

athletes

due

to

the

lack

of

work

regarding

the

types

of

movements

contemplated in them from the training.

The results of Artistic Swimming in recent years in provincial and national competitions

have

not

been

satisfactory

for

the

school

team

of

Villa

Clara

province,

presenting

difficulties in the execution of figures and free routines.

The

general

objective

is

the

biomechanical

analysis

of

the

behavior

of

the

technical

execution of the ballet figure in the athletes of the school team of Artistic Swimming of

Villa Clara.

Methodology

Methods:

Documentary

analysis:

Its

application

aimed

to

determine

the

methodological

and

legal

conception established by normative documents, as well as in articles, research carried out

and

other

documents

the

topic

under

study;

the

following

were

considered

as

documentary sources:

✓

Rule Book of the International Swimming Federation (FINA),
✓

Artistic Swimming Athlete Preparation Program in Cuba,
✓

The call for the school category.
✓

Previous

research

addressing

Artistic

Swimming

and

the

application

of

biomechanics.

From

their

analysis

it

is

possible

to

suggest

that

there

are

no

specific

patterns

for

performing ballet; this is why the coaches do not have a uniform guide for training, nor in

the explanation of that figure.

Within this method, an additional step was taken

Literature Review

and the following were

consulted:

✓

Texts on Biomechanics,
✓

References in Research Methodology,
✓

Investigations carried out. (Postgraduate specialization thesis in high-performance

synchronized swimming. - Montiel, D.; 2010).
✓

Articles and digital publications on websites specializing in sports.

The

observation

:

was

used

at

various

points

in

the

investigationduring

several

training

sessions

(2

sessions),

with

the

purpose

of

verifying

the

execution

of

the

technical

performance

of

the

ballet

figure,

to

determine

the

subjects

that

would

be

selected

as

a

sample, and during the filming sessions.

It

allows

us

to

understand

reality,

it

is

used

in

diagnosis

and

in

the

evaluation

of

performance, and the observations carried out were structured and participatory.

Interview:

Interviews were conducted

with

the coaches

and the national

commissioner to

understand

their

needs

and

interests,

allowing

the

collection

of

information

and

the

selection of athletes for study and processing.

The

evidence:

The

selected

technical

execution

for

the

work

was

applied

equally

to

all

athletes.

The

procedure

proposed

by

Perdomo

was

applied

for

the

biomechanical

study.

et

al.,

(2021) which consists of five steps

Step

1:

Filming

using

cameras

positioned

in

front

of

and

to

the

side

of

the

jumping

action

Step 2: Digitizing the images frame by frame

Step 3: Synchronization of the data obtained from each of the cameras

Step 4: Phase: Obtaining results.

Step 5: Statistical processing and analysis.

Where:

Biomechanical

filming:

It

was

carried

out

in

compliance

with

the

requirements

of

biomechanical research, in order to perform the analysis of the technical execution of the

ballet

figure

with

the

use

of

computer

software,

which

is

adjusted

to

the

analysis

of

movements

and

sports

actions;

its

application

made

it

possible

to

calculate

different

physical magnitudes that intervene in the execution.

The filming used a camera, positioned to the side of the swimmers under investigation, to

capture the execution of the ballet figure in all phases of the action and trajectory.

Film

processing:

It

allowed

the

selection

of

the

best

sequences

of

the

execution

of

the

technique performed by the athletes for the application of the software, the determination of

the variables and the comparison with the selected pattern.

Software for motion analysis:

It made it possible to determine the magnitudes: angle of the

ballet, speed and acceleration of the flapping and hip movements, as well as the trajectories

followed by the athletes during the execution of the technique.

The following proposal was used as a pattern to obtain the results:

✓

Call for entries for the Artistic Swimming School Games (2016-2020). Organized

by

the

National

Artistic

Swimming

Commission

and

the

Cuban

Swimming

Federation.

(Havana).
✓

Official video

delivered by the National

Artistic Swimming Commission and the

Cuban Swimming Federation, at a national meeting of coaches and judges on the

performance carried out by the Mexican team.

Methodological

triangulation

of

the

data:

Its

basic

principle

consisted

of

collecting

and

analyzing data obtained from the application of different methods, in order to compare and

interpret them. This allowed for verifying the correspondence between the data obtained

during diagnosis and implementation; furthermore, it enabled the evaluation of results to

establish

patterns.

It

is

primarily

applied

in

the

study

of

information

derived

from

the

reference

model,

video

analysis

and

processing,

software

application,

and

the

athletes'

actual performance.

Results and Discussion

Reference pattern for biomechanical characterization.

According

to

the

Artistic

Swimming

School

Games

call

for

entries

(2016-2020),

issued

by

the

National

Artistic

Swimming

Commission

and the Cuban Swimming Federation, the Ballet

Characterization

is

given

by:

“from

the

stretched back position, one leg is raised straight to the underwater ballet leg position. The

ballet leg is then lowered.” (GD 1.6)

In addition, the official video sent as an observation guide of the figures by FINA, at the

approval congress when the cycle begins, is used for the comparison of the execution; it

was delivered to the province by the National Commission of Artistic Swimming and the

Cuban Swimming Federation, at the national meeting of coaches and judges; it is based on

the execution carried out by the Mexican team.

The comparison between the video and the performances allowed us to determine variables

and observe their level.

Sequence of positions to be analyzed from the video:

✓

The

swimmer's

position

upon

entering

the

water

is

correct

because

she

is

positioned

horizontally

and

the

head,

torso,

and

legs

are

in

proper

alignment

with the water's surface.
✓

In

the

execution

of

the

ballet

entrance,

no

sinking

occurs

and

it

exerts

a

90-

degree angle, which is correct.
✓

In the execution of the ballet underwater, it is observed that the frequency of the

flapping increases when maintaining that position.
✓

In

the

execution

of

the

tub

up

to

the

supine

position,

it

is

performed

on

the

surface of the water without sinking the body.

Biomechanical analysis and results obtained.

Athlete 1:Trajectory of the hip, right elbow, and right ankle:

Angle achieved 86.7º

Moment of greatest force (at the hip

point).

The sequential analysis of the execution shows that:

✓

The swimmer's initial position upon entering the water is incorrect because she

is not positioned horizontally on the water's surface.
✓

The moment when the greatest force is exerted on the hip is while raising the leg

to the ballet position.
✓

The kinematic analysis of the motion reveals the presence of braking, which is

clearly

determined

by

the

opposition

between

the

velocity

and

acceleration

vectors (V- and a+) at this point (the hip).
✓

the need to increase the speed and force of the flapping, for which he had to hold

his breath to raise his leg,
✓

The ballet position is reached, achieving an angle of 86.7º. (The thigh should not

exceed an angle of 90º).
✓

It

is

not

achieved

in

accordance

with

the

model;

keeping

the

chin

above

the

water is not possible.

Athlete 2: Trajectory of the hip, right elbow and right ankle.

Angle achieved 86.4º

Moment of greatest force (at the hip

point).

The sequential analysis of the execution shows that it is very similar to athlete 1, since:

✓

The swimmer's initial position upon entering the water is incorrect because she

is not positioned horizontally on its surface.
✓

She lowers her hips too much, causing the rest of her body to sink during the

ballet entrance.
✓

The leg is very low when performing the tubing towards the supine position.
✓

The moment when the greatest force is exerted on the hip is while raising the leg

to the ballet position.
✓

The kinematic analysis of the motion reveals the presence of braking, which is

clearly

determined

by

the

opposition

between

the

velocity

and

acceleration

vectors (V- and a+) at this point (the hip).
✓

need to apply greater force at the hip point to maintain the position,
✓

It only achieves an angle of 86.4º when the ideal angle is 90º.
✓

the chin submerged when, according to the model, it should be above the water.

Both athletes underwent ballet figure tests, both at the initial stage of the study and after

discussions

with

their

coaches

regarding

the

deficiencies

identified

in

each

athlete.

Based

on

these

deficiencies,

the

training

plan

was

adjusted

accordingly.

A

reference

profile was then developed to assess the development of ballet execution skills in the

under-12

age category.

This

profile used a scale to

assign scores by comparing

skill

development with the proposed profile. The procedure outlined by Zatsiorski (1989) in

section

5.3,

Norms,

was

employed,

which

defines

a

norm

as

the

limiting

magnitude

used to classify an athlete into one of the classification groups.

It is taken into account (according to the author himself) that among the types of norms

that

are

proposed,

the

comparative

norm

should

be

used,

which

is

based

on

the

comparison of people who belong to the same universe and can be developed from the

data of the averages and standards.

In evaluating the results obtained from the application of the biomechanical procedure,

the results obtained are first compared with the reference pattern explained above for

the biomechanical

study, since no

references to

previous biomechanical

studies were

found,

and

then

the

results

obtained

are

compared

with

the

prototype

or

reference

profile determined in the research.

Table 1.

Evaluation of indicators based on results in athletes

Athletes / Indicators	Body placement in relation to body surface area (cm)	Distance from the hip to the water surface at takeoff (cm)	Hip position during movement (cm)	Ballet angle (degrees)
Pattern	0	5	8	90
Athlete 1	4	10	12	80.5
Athlete 2	1	7	9	89
Athlete 3	2	9	12	87.3
Athlete 4	3	6	13	85
Athlete 5	2	8	10	87.4
Athlete 6	1	6	9	91.5
Athlete 7	2	7	10	89.5
Athlete 8	4	11	13	80
Minimum value	1	6	9	80
Average	2	8	11	86
Maximum value	4	11	13	92
Median	2.0	7.5	11.0	87.4
Standard Deviation	1.19	1.85	1.69	4.17

Note: My own inspiration

For the development of the standards to evaluate the results of the application of the

reference profile for the mastery of the body posture of the ballet figure in the school

category of artistic swimming, Zatsiorski VM (1989) is assumed, and the procedure is

based on adding to the mean 1/2, 1/4 and 1/6 of the Standard Deviation and the high,

medium and low values were determined which will be compared individually with the

subjects of study of the research

Table 2.

Standards for evaluating the results of applying the reference profile for mastering body

posture in the technical execution of ballet figures

Indicators	N	Mean	SD	High + 1/2 SD	Medium + 1/4 SD	Bass + 1/6 SD
Body placement in relation to body surface area (cm)	8	2	1.19	1.6	2.8	4.2
Distance from the hip to the water surface at takeoff (cm)	8	8	1.85	6.9	8.5	11.4
Hip position during movement (cm)	8	11	1.69	9.8	11.4	13.3
Ballet angle (degrees)	8	86	4.17	93.6	87.3	80.8

Note: My own inspiration

Table 3.

Results of the implementation of the reference profile to assess the development of skills

for mastering body posture in the technical execution of the ballet figure in the school

category of artistic swimming

Athletes	Sex	Body placement in relation to body surface area (cm)	Qualification	Distance from the hip to the water surface at takeoff (cm)	Qualification	Hip position during movement (cm)	Qualification	Ballet angle (degrees)	Qualification
1	F	4	M	10	R	12	R	80.5	M
2	F	1	B	7	R	9	B	89	B
3	F	2	B	9	R	12	R	87.3	R
4	F	3	R	6	B	13	M	85	R
5	F	2	B	8	R	10	R	87.4	R
6	F	1	B	6	B	9	B	91.5	B
7	M	2	B	7	R	10	R	89.5	B

8	M	4	M	11	M	13	M	80	M
Average result	3	R	8	R	11	R	86	R

Source: own elaboration

By implementing the reference profile, it is possible to assess the development of each

athlete's skills in terms of mastering body posture in the technical execution of ballet

figures, such as:

•

Athlete 1, in body placement in relation to body surface (cm) 4, has a rating of

M; distance from hip to water surface at takeoff (cm) 10, has a rating of R.hip

position during movement (cm)12 has an R rating, ballet angle 80.5 has an M

rating.
•

Athlete 2 in body placement in relation to body surface (cm) 1 has a rating of B,

distance

from

hip

to

water

surface

at

takeoff

(cm)

7

has

a

rating

of

R,hip

position during movement (cm)9 has a grade of B, ballet angle 89 has a grade of

B.

And

successively

the

rest

of

the

team,

which

benefits

the

coachTo

have

a

real

understanding of the current situation of the artistic swimming team of the provincial

EIDE “Héctor Ruiz Pérez” of Villa Clara

, and to be able to readjust the training plans

for it.

Conclusions

1.

The biomechanical analysis showed that the regulations in the reference model

are

not

met;

deficiencies

persist

in

the

height

of

the

body

relative

to

the

horizontal with the water, there is a lack of body control during execution, the

legs are not extended correctly, and there is a need to apply greater force at the

hip point to prevent pronounced sinking.
2.

The

methodological

procedure

created

allowed

the

formation

of

the

reference

profile of the body posture domain of the ballet figure in the sport discipline of

Artistic Swimming, and its implementation revealed, by comparing the average

results derived from the biomechanical analysis, with the prototype or reference

profile created for this purpose, the current situation of the team of this sport of

the provincial EIDE “Héctor Ruiz Pérez” of Villa Clara.

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Acero,

J.

(2013).

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Principle

of

Complexity

in

Biomechanical

Analysis.

Retrieved

from

http://viref.udea.edu.co/expo2011/contenidos/eventos/biomecanica.htm

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Acero, J. (2013). Relationships between Biomechanics, Coaching Groups, and Applied

Sciences.

Retrieved

from

http://viref.udea.edu.co/expo2011/contenidos/eventos/biomecanica.htm

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FINA (2017-21).

International

Swimming Federation. Artistic Swimming Manual

for

Coaches and Referees.

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JM.

et

al.

(2021)

Methodological

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Physical

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Rodríguez

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