Dr.Hab., Professor, Honored Trainer of the Russian Federation B.I. Tarakanov¹
Dr.Hab., Professor R.N. Apoyko¹
PhD, Professor S.I. Petrov¹
Postgraduate student, Olympic champion N.V. Vorobyeva^1
1Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health, St. Petersburg

Keywords: tactical/ technical actions, test rates, monitoring, women wrestler, competitive performance indices, analysis, championship, system, structure, standard, weight class, scoring attack interval, 2018 Russian Women's Freestyle Wrestling Championship’s (RWFWC), tactical skill ratio; technical mastery ratio.

Background. Competitive performance in modern wrestling is rated using combinations of competitive performance indices that include the competitive success rates (wins and standings) plus many other progress rating factors. Such performance test rates are indicative of the training system priorities, success of interventions to the training process and actual athletic progresses. The competitive performance indices may vary in a wide range depending on the wrestlers’ specific and summarized competitive performance aspects, competitive situations and conditions and the actual competitive progress (Tarakanov B.I., 2000; Avdeev Y.V. et al., 2009; Goranov B. et al., 2011; Nerobeev N.Y., 2014; Apoiko R.N., 2016; Karelin A.A., Tajmazov A.B. et al., 2016).

Objective of the study was to explore the ways to improve the competitive performance indexing and monitoring system applied in the elite women’s wrestling sports.

Methods and structure of the study. A database for the study was mined by analyses of the 2018 Russian Women's Freestyle Wrestling Championship’s (RWFWC) video replays and competitive reports (referees’ protocols) to rate performance of the strongest national female wrestlers (n=124) in 10 weight classes. We analyzed 146 bouts of the championship to obtain the following most informative competitive performance indices: total tactical/ technical actions; total score; specific/ total competitive success rates (by the weight classes); average tactical/ technical actions per bout and per minute; scoring attack interval; average bout time; tactical skill ratio; and technical mastery ratio. These competitive performance indices were calculated as recommended by the relevant methods by Apoyko R.N., Tarakanov B.I., 2015; Vorobyeva N.V., Karelin A.A., Tarakanov B.I., 2018. A special priority in the analyses was given to 37 bouts of the RWFWC champions in every weight class.

Results and discussion. Having analyzed the RWFWC data, we found the following average competitive performance indices: competitive success rate: 2.00±0.03 points; average tactical/ technical actions per bout: 2.30±0.20; average score per bout: 4.60±0.31; average tactical/ technical actions per minute: 0.58±0.08; average score per minute: 1.15±0.17; scoring attack interval: 108.2±3.9s; average bout time: 4 min 06±11s. It should be noted that the success rates and average bout times were found fairly equal for the sample, whilst the competitive performance indices were better for the winners. This finding urged us to further analyze the database with a special emphasis on the national champions’ competitive performance indices applicable as the benchmarks/ reference values. Given in Table 1 are the individual averaged competitive performance indices of the RWFWC champions in every weight class.

As demonstrated by Table 1, the RWFWC champions scored high on every competitive performance index scale, although the individual data variations were quite wide. Thus the competitive success rates made up 1.60 to 2.38 points (1.97± 0.08 points on average); total tactical/ technical actions per bout was estimated at 2.60 to 4.25 (3.75±0.17 on average); tactical/ technical actions per minute: 0.56 to 1.63 (0.89±0.11 on average); score per bout: 5.33 to 8.67 (7.36±0.34 on average); score per minute: 0.89 to 3.56 (1.78±0.27 on average); scoring attack interval: 36.8s to 108.0s (73.8s on average); tactical skill ratio: 0.68 to 1.00 (0.82 points on average); and technical mastery ratio: 0.73 to 1.00 (0.83 points on average). The data variations were found indicative of the individual differences in the competitive performance of elite wrestlers even in case of equal competitive success rates.

Table 1. Competitive performance indices of the 2018 RWFWC champions

The above data and analyses were used to put together a set competitive performance index benchmarks on a five-point scale with an analysis of the mean values and standard deviations: see Table 2.

Table 2. Competitive performance index benchmarks for the national women’s wrestling elite

As demonstrated by Table 2, the set of comparative competitive performance index benchmarks ​​for the women’s wrestling elite make it possible to profile the individual competitive performance and objectively compare and rank all the national leaders to find the key competitive performance indices critical for success. Given in Table 3 is the national women’s wrestling elite ranking by these competitive performance indices.

Having analyzed the data given in Table 3, we see that the specific and total competitive performance indices may differ even when the competitive success rates are virtually the same. Of special interest are the rating points of the 62kg weight class winner who demonstrated maximums on every competitive performance index scale with the 37 points scored in total that is the group highest level. She is followed by the 57kg and 76kg weight class winners, both with 31 points. Ranked moderate are the total scores of the 59kg, 53kg and 50kg weight class winners with their 29, 27 and 24 points, respectively. The lowest specific and total scores of 16 points were made by the 55kg, 65kg, 68kg and 72kg weight class winners. These data show that the elite women wrestlers may be highly successful even with the relatively moderate competitive performance indices.

Table 3. National women’s wrestling elite ranked by the competitive performance indices

Conclusion. Summarizing our findings on the ways to improve the competitive performance rating and monitoring system for the national women’s wrestling elite, we have grounds to state that the proposed champion’s competitive performance index rating and benchmarking method offers a sound reference base for comparative competitive performance analyses and rankings sensitive to the individual competitive performance indices and progress needs of every athlete. It should be also mentioned that the top competitive successes in this sport discipline will be secured not only by the sub-maximums on every specific competitive performance index scale but also the optimal individual competitive performance indices combinations for success in the national championships.

References

1. Apoyko R.N. Evolution of wrestling in international Olympic movement and its impact on main components of elite wrestlers training. Doct. Diss. Abstract (Hab.). St. Petersburg, 2016. 51p.
2. Vorobyeva N.V., Karelin A.A., Tarakanov B.I. Women's freestyle wrestling: is it possible to run like Japanese women?. Uchenye zapiski Universiteta im. P.F. Lesgafta. 2018. No. 2 (156). pp. 33-38.
3. Goranov B., Apoyko R.N., Nerobeev N.Yu., Tarakanov B.I. Efficiency of technical and tactical actions of highly skilled wrestlers in modern Greco-Roman wrestling. Uchenye zapiski universiteta im. P.F. Lesgafta. 2011. No. 4 (74). pp. 35-39.
4. Karelin A.A., Tajmazov A.B., Tarakanov B.I. et al. Competitive wrestling as priority research subject for research education school of P.F. Lesgaft National State University. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 2016, no. 10, pp. 16-19.
5. Nerobeev N.Yu. Physical and technical-tactical training of female freestyle wrestlers based on sexual dimorphism. Doct. diss. abstract (Hab.). Lesgaft NSU publ.. St. Petersburg, 2014, 46p.
6. Tarakanov B.I. Pedagogical fundamentals of wrestling training management. St. Petersburg: Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health publ., 2000. 162 p.

Corresponding author: b.tarakanov@lesgaft.spb.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to explore the ways to improve the competitive performance indexing and monitoring system applied in the elite women’s wrestling sports.

Methods and structure of the study. A database for the study was mined by analyses of the 2018 Russian Women's Freestyle Wrestling Championship’s (RWFWC) video replays and competitive reports (referees’ protocols) to rate performance of the strongest national female wrestlers (n=124) in 10 weight classes. We analyzed 146 bouts of the championship to obtain the following most informative competitive performance indices: total tactical/ technical actions; total score; specific/ total competitive success rates (by the weight classes); average tactical/ technical actions per bout and per minute; scoring attack interval; average bout time; tactical skill ratio; and technical mastery ratio.

Results and conclusions. Summarizing our findings on the ways to improve the competitive performance rating and monitoring system for the national women’s wrestling elite, we have grounds to state that the proposed champion’s competitive performance index rating and benchmarking method offers a sound reference base for comparative competitive performance analyses and rankings sensitive to the individual competitive performance indices and progress needs of every athlete. It should be also mentioned that the top competitive successes in this sport discipline will be secured not only by the sub-maximums on every specific competitive performance index scale but also the optimal individual competitive performance indices combinations for success in the national championships.