PhD K.G. Zelensky¹
Dr. Hab., Professor G.N. Ponomarev^{2, 3
1}North Caucasus Federal University, Stavropol
²St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg
³Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, St. Petersburg

Keywords: radio direction finding sport, factorial analysis, special fitness, focused training, sport excellence system.

Background. Competitive performance in the modern radio direction finding sport is rather specific due to the high and variable physical, emotional and intellectual stressors [1, 2], with the individual competitive performance known to depend both on the key physical qualities and intellectual capacities.

Objective of the study was to find the dominant factors of influence on the special fitness of the 15-18 year old radio direction finders at the basic training and excellence training stages.

Methods and structure of the study. Sampled for the study run in 2010-18 were the 15-18 year old radio direction finders (n=238) who were tested to identify and analyze the dominant progress factors at the basic radio direction finding training and excellence stages, with their progress tested by a set of 17 dependable tests (run on an annual basis) to rate their technical skills, physical qualities and intellectual capacities.

Results and discussion. Findings of the factorial analysis of the technical, physical and intellectual test rates of the 15-16 year olds are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Factorial analysis of the test data: 15-16 year old group (basic training stage)

The Factor 1 input to the total dispersion of the sample was estimated at 18.2%. The following three factors were found to have the highest factorial weights: close-range RT location speed (0.795); RT signal adjustment (0.776); and the RT direction finding (0.720); followed by the thinking efficiency rate (0.599). The test data and analysis showed the special RT location (RTL) skills and tactical fitness having the highest factorial weights. On the whole, Factor 1 may be referred to as the special technical/ tactical fitness for competitions.

The Factor 2 input to the total dispersion of the sample was estimated at 15.5%, with the factorial weights being the highest for the strength and speed-strength qualities tested by the pull-ups test (0.908), standing long jump test (0.750) and the prone push-ups test (0.714); followed by the special endurance rating 3000m race test data (0.687). Therefore, Factor 2 may be referred to as the strength/ physical fitness factor.

Factor 3 with the input of 14.8% to the total dispersion of the sample refers to the special intellectual capacity rates including logical thinking (0.692), attention control (0.678), and the spatial comprehension (0.644). We believe that, despite the relatively modest factorial weights of the above qualities, they are significant for the competitive fitness. On the whole, Factor 3 may be referred to as the input data flow processing and decision-making qualities and skills.

Factor 4 with the input of 11.5% to the total dispersion of the sample refers to dexterity and speed, specific RTL skills and abstract logical thinking capacity, with the factorial weights being the highest for the 3x10m shuttle sprint (0.873) and 30m sprint test data (0.861); followed by the RTL signal control (0.610) and abstract logical thinking capacity test data (0.605). The factor is also indicative of the run speed on the distance, direction control and rugged terrain crossing skills in the radio direction finding competitions. On the whole, Factor 4 may be interpreted as indicative of the individual speed and movement coordination qualities in the radio direction finding competitions.

Factor 5 with the input of 10.3% to the total dispersion of the sample indicates a few mental qualities and skills including the attention focusing (0.683) and specific orienteering and interpolation (0,582). Knowing that attention normally falls on the distance to give rise to the technical/ tactical errors, the attention control and focusing qualities may be decisive for a competitive success. On the whole, Factor 5 may be interpreted as indicative of the individual attention control and abstract logical thinking capacity in competitions.

FA of the correlation matrix of the 17-18 year old group (excellence training stage) test data showed some differences in the above factors and their factorial weights versus the 15-16 year old group. We found the following 5 leading factors for the group with the summarized inputs to the total dispersion of the sample making up 68.2%: see Table 2.

Factor 1 with the input of 23.3% to the total dispersion of the sample includes the high-weight indicators of attention focusing (0.796), close-range RT location (0.780), logical thinking (0.759) and the specific orienteering and interpolation (0.702) qualities; followed by the thinking efficiency (0.690), RT direction location (0.605), spatial comprehension (0.589), and 3000m race (0.585) test results. Therefore, it is the specific thinking capacity, input data processing and tactical decision-making qualities and skills that have the highest factorial weights in the case. For this reason Factor 1 may be interpreted as indicative of the individual special technical/ tactical skills, intellectual fitness and stress tolerance.

Table 2. Factorial analysis of the test data: 17-18 year old group (excellence training stage)

Factor 2 with the input of 12.0% to the total dispersion of the sample indicates the RL skills including the RT signal control (0.779), adjustment to the RT signal (0.484) and dexterity rated by the 3x10m sprint test (0,582). On the whole, Factor 2 may be interpreted as indicative of the individual equipment control skills in the radio direction finding competitions.

Factor 3 with the input of 11.6% to the total dispersion of the sample is mostly indicative of the individual strength rated by the pull-ups test (0.775) and speed-strength rated by the standing long jump test (0.745). On the whole, Factor 3 may be interpreted as indicative of the individual speed-strength qualities.

Factor 4 with the input of 11.1% to the total dispersion of the sample is mostly indicative of the abstract logical thinking capacity under physical stress.

And Factor 5 with the input of 10.2% to the total dispersion of the sample is mostly indicative of the input data processing and analyzing capacity.

Factorial analysis of the test data showed that a special priority in the basic training stage (15-16 year old group) shall be given to the technical skills, and in the excellence training stage (17-18 year old group) to the intellectual fitness (logical thinking, thinking efficiency, spatial comprehension, attention control skills) in addition to the technical/ equipment control skills, for the competitive progress. This may be due to the fact that the trained athletes in the sport excellence stage normally develop perfect equipment control skills and their competitive success is determined rather by their competitive tactical/ decision making skills and qualities [3] and special physical and mental stress tolerance.

Conclusion. Factorial analysis of the test data showed that a special priority in the basic training stage (15-16 year old group) shall be given to the technical/ equipment control skills including the close-range RT location and RT signal control skills and the thinking/ decision making efficiency, with a special priority to the speed-strength qualities and physical stress tolerance of the athletes for competitive progress.

References

1. Vlasova S.V., Khodulev V.I., Ponomarev G.N. Electromyographic rates to quantify intermuscular interactions in athletes. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury. 2016. no. 8. pp.  97-99.
2. Zelenskiy K.G. Structure of competitive activity when passing classic distance in radio direction finding. Uchenye zapiski un-ta im. P.F. Lesgafta, 2014, no. 7 (113), pp.  73-77.
3. Zelensky K.G. Competitive radio location process design at every stage of long-term training system. Theory and Practice of Physical Culture. 2018. no. 4(960). P.66.

Corresponding author: ardf_zelenskii@mail.ru

Abstract

Competitive performance in the modern radio direction finding sport is rather specific due to the high and variable physical, emotional and intellectual stressors. Sampled for the study run in 2010-18 were the 15-18 year old radio direction finders (n=238) who were tested to identify and analyze the dominant progress factors in the basic radio direction finding training and excellence stages.

Progress of the sample was tested for the whole study period on a yearly basis by 17 dependable and proven technical, physical and intellectual performance tests. The test data and factorial analysis showed that the competitive success at the basic training stage (15-16 years of age) is determined (18.2%) by the short-range radio detection skills, basic radio direction finding skills and fast thinking and tactical solution finding abilities. At the sport excellence stage (17-18 years of age) the athletes were found to additionally need high mental stress tolerance and physical fatigue tolerance for success, with this factor contribution to the total dispersion of the above factors estimated at 23.3%.