L.A. Parfenova, associate professor, Ph.D.
I.N. Timoshina, professor, Dr.Hab.
G.B. Glazkova, postgraduate student
Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University named after I.N. Ul’yanov, Ulyanovsk

Key words: All-Russian physical culture and sports complex GTO (Ready for Labour and Defence), persons with health issues, group with reduced exercise load and special medical group, tests.

Abstract. The paper concerns the prospect of introduction and problem areas of the All-Russian physical culture and sports complex “GTO” (Ready for Labour and Defence), offers methodological and practical approaches to improvement of the content of the proposed draft of the Regulations on GTO regarding providing the involvement in testing of students with health issues; author's suggestions on how to eliminate existing shortcomings are based on science-based and introduced experience of physical culture and sports and fitness activities for this category of young people.

The significant improvement of the regulatory and material and technical base along with the enhancement of organizational, administrative, scientific and methodological support resulted in the progressive development of the physical culture and sports sector in Russia. The grand events such as the Universiade 2013 in Kazan and the Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi and the triumphant performance of Russian athletes at these competitions ensured that sport deservedly and systematically obtained the status of national and social movement.

At the same time, many experts [1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9] note that most of today's pupils have no interest in sports and prefer spending time at the computer to motor activity. This negative trend led to the fact that the current system of physical education in Russia lost its leading positions in organizing school leisure and failed to involve most of the children and young people to physical exercises. And now, the young generation of our country loses the positive developmental impact of the scientifically justified method of sports training, one of the fundamental means of physical, spiritual and moral development.

It is quite obvious that modern physical education needs some kind of a core phenomenon that could become the determinant of the continuous process of physical education of young population. In the context of achieving the targets of the Strategy [7], that suggest a 80 percent increase of the number of pupils and students regularly engaged in physical culture and sports up to 2020, the reformative mission was entrusted to the All-Russian physical culture and sports complex “GTO” (Ready for Labor and Defense), the revival of which was brought forward by the President Vladimir Putin.

The idea of reviving the GTO complex received broad public and scientific support. As a result of the president's order of 04.04.2013 (“Pr-756”, p.1a) the concept of the complex was developed, based on the analysis of the current state of physical fitness of Russian citizens.

In contrast to the old version the new draft provides for the participation of wider socio-demographic groups of different age and health status.

The designed version of the complex proposes the implementation of its main provisions in relation to persons with health issues, but the extent of their participation and the mechanisms of testing are poorly described.

The document says only that the list of tests and the order of assessment during qualification for the persons assigned to the group with reduced exercise load and special medical group are approved by the health authorities.

In our opinion, the wording of this provision is incorrect. It is unclear which group of people is considered by the developers of the project. The separation into medical groups is carried only in educational institutions of secondary and higher education for the organization of classes for pupils (1-11 grades) and students (1-4 years) within the compulsory subject “Physical Education”. The rules of medical groups' formation for physical education of the non-adults are determined by the Order of the Ministry of Health dated December 21, 2012 N 1346n [6].  Similarly, the students in the institutions of higher education are separated into 3 groups (main group, the one with reduced exercise load and special medical group) due to health status.

This suggests that the drafters considered only those young people who are currently studying in educational institutions, while referring to the group with reduced exercise load and special medical group in terms of participation in qualification on the standards of GTO. But what about those people who have different nosological forms and who are not involved in obligatory physical training, but willing to participate in testing of their physical fitness within the GTO complex. Unfortunately, there is no clarification on this subject in the proposed draft of the Regulations.

It should be recalled that about 53% of pupils and students are in the group with reduced exercise load and special medical group. According to chief pediatrician, member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Alexander Baranov, only half of school graduates are able to perform the qualifying age-related standards of physical training and only 2,5% of them can be classified as healthy. Obviously, such a large number of young people cannot be deprived of their right to receive GTO badge, which promises some preferential sanctions (privileges while passing into university, increased scholarship etc.).

Given the considerable and steadily growing number of students assigned to the group with reduced exercise load and special medical group, we consider it essential to specify the content of the Regulations related to the implementation of the All-Russian physical culture and sports complex “GTO” (Ready for Labor and Defense) for persons with health issues. It would be appropriate to delegate the functions of organization and monitoring to the Ministry of Education and Science, responsible for public policy and legal regulation in the sphere of education.

Our attention to this subject is due to the poor quality of the existing system of school physical education that is the reason why most of the students have weak physical fitness and experience the lack of specific knowledge and motivation in the field of health and fitness activities. It's officially confirmed that many students have progressive nosological forms of various kinds caused by their sedentary lifestyle and this fact actualizes the need for detailed regulation of the participation of this category of young people in the GTO complex.

The students with different nosologies are in a more unfavorable situation as it is much more difficult to socialize in the society and adapt to rapidly changing conditions of life while having poor health. The opportunity to be equal subjects of the nationwide sports project which unites and stimulates the interests of all categories of people will motivate the mentioned group of students to engage in physical culture and sports.

The organization of the involvement of pupils and students with health issues in the GTO complex is important and manageable and certain prerequisites are present in the sphere of Russian science and educational practice for the solution of this task, particularly the Letter of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation named “On assessment and testing of students who are assigned to special medical group for physical training due to health status” [5] and number of other regulatory documents.  The list and procedure of testing in the framework of the complex should be based on scientific experimentally approved methods and on the results of the diagnosis and assessment of physical status of students with different nosological forms [1, 3, 8, 9].

Based on our scientific and practical experience [1, 3, 9] we propose a number of methodological approaches to the identified problem.

One option involves the definition of a system of tests which are counter-indicative for all nosological groups. As an example, the table below reveals the essence of this approach (Table 1).

Table 1. The contraindications and recommendations for testing children, adolescents and young people with various health issues

Notes:

1.  Running (or walking) for 6 minutes (m) to assess overall endurance.

2. Standing long jump (cm); shows the degree of development of speed and strength.

3. Flexibility is determined using straight-leg stretch exercise (cm).

4. Speed is determined based on 30 meters run (s).

5. Static equilibrium (Romberg test) - (c).

6. Strength of muscles of the arm and shoulder girdle is determined using bench push-ups (girls) and pull-ups for boys (number of times).

7. Throwing and catching a tennis ball with two hands at a distance of 1 meter from the wall for 30 seconds at maximum rate (number of times); determines agility and speed of motor response.

The second option is the variable-based approach that implies the replacement of one “forbidden” test with another one which provides the development of the same physical quality. For example, speed and strength, important for professional activity and physical condition, are tested using “standing long jump” contraindicated for a number of diseases. Based on the principle of voluntariness and availability, subjects with health impairments can choose another speed and strength test from the suggested list. The appropriate tests in such case may include: shuttle run, sit-ups for 30 seconds (legs bent at the knees in the initial position), and ascending a bench of a certain height for 30 seconds.

In addition, the practice of testing under easier conditions is proved to be effective and got medical approval. For example, the standing long jump can be performed from a fixed mat and with landing on a mat. This would absorb landing which is the contraindicated element in the exercise.

Summarizing the above, we believe that it is necessary to develop a system of tests for students with different nosologies and define the test parameters, taking into account regional peculiarities of general state of students, as soon as possible, before the widespread launch of the project in 2015 based on the available results of scientifically approved thesis researches [3, 9].

Another problem point in the implementation of the Complex may be the assessment of the level of knowledge and skills in physical culture and sports, included in the regulatory testing section. The theoretical and methodological section of the currently existing document designed to assess knowledge of people in the field of physical culture and sport is insufficient.

It is proved [2, 3, 8, 9] that sports theoretical and methodological knowledge is the basis of stable motivation of people involved in sport and the amount of weekly motor activity along with the experience of independent exercises indicates the level of physical culture education of the population. In our opinion, the current project, especially considering the regulation of expected results, diminishes the role and importance of theoretical and methodological knowledge.

The undoubted success of the modern GTO complex is “Recommendations on weekly motor regimen” designed in accordance with hygiene requirements. However, the drafters didn't clarify the ways of monitoring and control, which are supposed to cover all different types of motor activity of persons involved in the complex. This monitoring is especially important for the students with health issues because regular physical activity has a beneficial effect on the poor health of a growing body.

Based on years of positive scientific and practical experience in the area of physical culture and sports concerning young people with health issues we were in a position to suggest a number of important proposals that have been mentioned earlier in the discussion of the complex.

It is advisable that the authorities in the sphere of education and science, responsible for development and regulation of the state educational policy for pupils and students, should be delegated with the function of approval of the list of tests and the order of assessment during qualification in the GTO complex for persons assigned to the group with reduced exercise load and special medical group instead of health authorities.

• It is necessary to develop a system of tests for students with different nosologies and define the test parameters.
• It is also necessary to specify the content of the theoretical and methodological section and the criteria for assessing the level of fitness, sports knowledge and skills.

The Regulations on the GTO complex should include the separate section on the involvement of persons with health issues.

According to all of the above, we are ready to assert our opinion in the debate with the developers of the current version of the GTO complex.

To date, we are developing and testing the regional model of introduction of the All-Russian physical culture and sports complex “Ready for Labor and Defense” for persons with health issues in educational institutions of the Ulyanovsk region. We are planning to achieve the scientific, methodological, legal, practical, information and technological support for the GTO complex for students assigned to the group with reduced exercise load and special medical group.

Conclusion. Efforts of all the parties should be combined for efficient settling of the noted problem. Only joint efforts of regional and municipal educational and public health bodies, sports and scientific community will ensure the complex GTO as a socio-cultural phenomenon to become an essential part of personal and social physical culture and act as a factor uniting and challenging interests of all citizens. Available prerequisites of the positive impact of the work that we carry out give the basis for further distribution and promotion of such an experience at the federal level.

References

1. Parfenova, L.A. Integrative approach in physical education of schoolchildren with health issues: monograph / L.A. Parfenova. – Ulyanovsk: UlSPU, 2013. – 160 P. (In Russian)
2. Parfenova, L.A. Orientation and content of intellectual training of pupils with health issues at physical education lessons: teaching aid / L.A. Parfenova, L.D. Nazarenko. – Ulyanovsk: UlSPU, 2012. – 46 P. (In Russian)
3. Parfenova, L.A. The content and organization of physical education of primary schoolchildren of special medical group / L.A. Parfenova // Fizicheskaya kul'tura: vospitanie, obrazovanie, trenirovka. – Moscow: Teoriya i praktika fizicheskoy kultury i sporta. – 2012. – № 1. – P. 60–65. (In Russian)
4. The letter of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation dated 31.10.2003 № 13-51-263/13 «On the estimation and assessment of pupils attributed to special medical group for physical education classes due to health issues" [electronic resource]. – URL: http //infopravo.By.ru /fed2003/ch02/akt12781.shtm. (In Russian)
5. The Order of the Ministry of Health of the RF dated December 21, 2012 1346n N "On the order of medical examinations for minors, including when admitted to educational institutions and when studying there" [electronic resource]. – URL: http://base.garant.ru/70355102/. (In Russian)
6. The Decree of the Russian Federation dated 07.09.2009 № 1101-p "The strategy of development of physical culture and sport in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2020" [electronic resource]. – URL: http : //www. Infosport. Ru/strategiya/ docs/Strategiya.polf. (In Russian)
7. Stolyarov, V.I. Modernization of physical education and sports activity in a comprehensive school / V.I. Stolyarov, V.K. Balsevich, V.P. Mochenov, L.I. Lubysheva; gen. ed. by V.I. Stolyarov. – Moscow: Teoriya i praktika fizicheskoy kultury, 2009. – 320 P. (In Russian)
8. Timoshina, I.N. Actualization of continuity of the content and organization of adaptive physical culture of children, adolescents and young students in educational institutions: doctoral thesis (Hab.) / I.N. Timoshina. – St. Petersburg, 2008. –368 P. (In Russian)

Corresponding author: laraparf@mail.ru