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
1Bachelor's
degree in Physical Culture, Sports Coach in Artistic Swimming,nnatacionartistica@gmail.com;Orcid:
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8857-3509; 2Doctor 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 related to the topic under
study; the following were considered as documentary sources:
ü Rule Book of the International Swimming Federation
(FINA),
ü Artistic Swimming Athlete Preparation Program in Cuba,
ü The call for the school category.
ü 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 takenLiterature Reviewand the following were
consulted:
ü Texts on Biomechanics,
ü References in Research Methodology,
ü
Investigations carried out. (Postgraduate specialization thesis in high-performance
synchronized swimming. - Montiel, D.; 2010).
ü
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:
ü Call for entries for the Artistic Swimming School
Games (2016-2020). Organized by the National Artistic Swimming Commission and
the Cuban Swimming Federation. (Havana).
ü 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.
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:
ü
In
the execution of the ballet entrance, no sinking occurs and it exerts a
90-degree angle, which is correct.
ü
In
the execution of the ballet underwater, it is observed that the frequency of
the flapping increases when maintaining that position.
ü
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:
ü The swimmer's initial position upon entering the water
is incorrect because she is not positioned horizontally on the water's surface.
ü The moment when the greatest force is exerted on the
hip is while raising the leg to the ballet position.
ü 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).
ü the need to increase the speed and force of the
flapping, for which he had to hold his breath to raise his leg,
ü The ballet position is reached, achieving an angle of
86.7º. (The thigh should not exceed an angle of 90º).
ü 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:
ü The swimmer's initial position upon entering the water
is incorrect because she is not positioned horizontally on its surface.
ü She lowers her hips too much, causing the rest of her
body to sink during the ballet entrance.
ü The leg is very low when performing the tubing towards
the supine position.
ü The moment when the greatest force is exerted on the
hip is while raising the leg to the ballet position.
ü 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).
ü need to apply greater force at the hip point to
maintain the position,
ü It only achieves an angle of 86.4º when the ideal
angle is 90º.
ü 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 |
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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