Postgraduate student I.S. Maslov¹
Dr.Hab., Associate Professor M.D. Kudryavtsev^{1, 2, 3, 4}
PhD, Associate Professor T.G. Arutyunyan^{1, 2}
PhD, Associate Professor L.V. Zakharova¹
PhD, Associate Professor I.K. Shivit Huurak^5
1Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk
²Siberian State University of Science and Technology n.a. Academician M.F. Reshetnev, Krasnoyarsk
³Siberian Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Krasnoyarsk
⁴Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University named after V.P. Astafiev, Krasnoyarsk
⁵Tuva State University, Kyzyl

Keywords: bobsleigh, physical fitness excelling, athlete’s competitive fitness.

Background. In the L.P. Matveyev Sports Classifier, bobsleigh is ranked with Group 2 sports that require from athletes to drive special sports vehicles [3]. Valid rules of the International Bobsleigh Federation set an 18-year entrance limit for certified competitors to its international events; albeit basic trainings are allowed for the 14-plus year-old males. Such basic training systems are generally geared to advance their physical fitness, theoretical knowledge and, to a lesser extent, technical skills (dominated by the startup acceleration mastering practices using "wheelbarrow", "acceleration track" and a "bob" simulator) as specified by a long-term training plan. Bobsled driving skills are normally mastered only by the 16-plus year-olds [5, 6].

Objective of the study was to offer and test benefits of a cycled bobsleigh basics training system for the 13-14 year-old first-year trainees with a special emphasis on physical fitness.

Methods and structure of the study. As provided by the valid Federal Standard for bobsleigh sport, the beginner training stage should include 3-6 trainings of 6-14 hours per week taking 2-3 years. In the first training year, the system includes: body conditioning - 75-85% of the total; technical trainings - 10-12%; and the tactical, theoretical, psychological training - 5-6% [2]. We sampled for the study two beginner groups recruited in May 2019 groups (of pushers and pilots, with no intergroup transitions allowed) on the following grounds: health; functionality of the bodily systems (with medical examination certificates); and physical qualities tested by a set of traditional power, speed, speed-strength, coordination and flexibility tests. The sample was 13-14 years old in recruitment period and turned 14 by the basic training startup time to meet the age limit of the valid sport rules. The sample was tested reasonably fit for the sport as the recruits had some training experiences in a few other sports before they left them for non-qualifications or other reasons [3].

Results and discussion. Given in Tables 1 and 2 are the group pre-training test data.

Table 1. Group 1 entrance test data

Table 2. Group 2 entrance test data

The cycled bobsleigh basics training system for the 13-14 year-old first-year trainees was designed to include the following three cycles [4]:

(1) First startup cycle including four traditional training micro-cycles with a stepped growth of the training loads focused on the body conditioning goals. The trainees are expected to master “wheelbarrow”, “accelerating track”, “bob” and “skeleton” simulators prior to the special technical trainings. The trainees will master the simulator control theory and practice with the vehicle movement, pushing, sit-in, balancing and control basics. The basics trainings take one micro-cycle [1];

(2) Second basic body conditioning cycle is the key training stage to make the athletes fit for the special training stage. This cycle includes four body conditioning micro-cycles designed to complement the body conditioning with special physical training exercises to advance physical qualities (strength, speed, speed-strength, coordination and flexibility) critical for success in the sport. Each micro-cycle includes a wheelbarrow training with its weight rated at 20% of the maximum; one acceleration track training with the bob" and skeleton simulators weighing in 20% of the maximum. The trainings will be designed to master technical basics [2].

(3) And the third basic training cycle designed to advance the performance and stabilize the general and special physical fitness; with the special technical trainings increased in a gradual manner to make the athletes fit for future competitions. This cycle includes a body conditioning micro-cycle and a special preparatory micro-cycle to make the trainees fit for special skills trainings. The simulator-assisted trainings work using the wheelbarrow, accelerating track, bob" and skeleton simulators shall not be increased albeit the weights of the simulators are rated at 40% of the maximums ​​[6].

By the end of the cycled bobsleigh basics training cycles (in autumn), the group progress were tested by the 30m start/ run sprint, standing long jump, 10m wheelbarrow acceleration and weighted squats tests – see the test data in Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3. Group 1 post-training test data

Table 4. Group 2 post-training test data

The post- versus pre-training group tests of the sample showed progress of both groups in physical fitness in every test and their nearing to the special training stage requirements. The sports basics training system included the wheelbarrow, accelerating track, bob and skeleton simulator mastering theory and practices to make the athletes fit for promotion to the special training stage. At this juncture, however, both of the beginner groups were tested still unfit for promotion to the special technical training level i.e. in need of special physical and technical excellence training service.

Conclusion. The cycled bobsleigh basics training system for the 13-14 year-old first-year trainees with a special emphasis on physical fitness was found beneficial for their physical progress on the way to qualifications for the special training stage and further progress in the sport.

References

1. Antonov A.I., Labudin B.V., Melekhov V.I. Innovative sports and technical devices for mastering basic elements in various sports. Teaching aid. Lomonosov Northern (Arctic) federal university. 2nd ed.. rev., sup. St. Petersburg: Svoe izdatelstvo publ., 2015. 326 p.
2. Vostrikov D.A., Ponomarev V.V. Differentiated special physical training technology for qualified pushers at pre-season stage of educational training cycle. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury. 2013. No. 1. P. 18.
3. Matveyev L.P. Theory and methods of physical culture. Introduction to the subject. Textbook for higher special physical education institutions. 4th ed., ster. St. Petersburg: Lan publ., Moscow: Omega-L publ., 2004. 160 p.
4. Yurkov A.S. Actions to improve speed-strength training in professional bobsleigh. PhD diss. abstract. Krasnoyarsk, 2012. 189 p.
5. Alexandre Dias Lopes, Sandra Regina Alouche Two-Man Bobsled Push Start Analysis. Journal of Human Kinetics volume 50/2016, 63-70 DOI: 10.1515/hukin-2015-0143
6. Dabnichki P., Avital E. Influence of the position of crew members on aerodynamics performance of two-manbobsleigh. J Biomech, 2006; 39: 2733-2742

Corresponding author: kumid@yandex.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to offer and test benefits of a cycled bobsleigh basics training system for the 13-14 year-old first-year trainees with a special emphasis on physical fitness.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for the study two beginner groups (of pushers and pilots, with no intergroup transitions allowed) on the following grounds: health; functionality of the bodily systems (with medical examination certificates); physical qualities tested by a set of traditional power, speed, speed-strength, coordination and flexibility tests including the 30m start/ run sprint test, 30s abs test, push-ups and pull-ups test, standing long jump, front lean and eyes-closed one-leg standing pre-training tests. The group progresses were tested by the same post-training tests complemented by the wheelbarrow acceleration and weighted squats tests.

Results and conclusion. The study found that the beginner training service shall be structured in micro-cycles and meso-cycles and prudently managed to prevent execution errors, injuries and overtraining. Every first-year training practice shall priorities physical progress of the trainees. The pre- versus post-training tests showed the new cycled bobsleigh basics training system for the 13-14 year-old first-year trainees being beneficial for their physical fitness and qualifications for special competitive training service.