Postgraduate student E.V. Muraleeva¹
PhD, Associate Professor V.N. Chumakov¹
Associate Professor I.A. Karintsev^1
1Tchaikovsky State Institute of Physical Culture, Tchaikovsky

Keywords: shooting practice, elite biathlon, movement coordination qualities, static/ dynamic balance, postural control skills, training method

Background. Some sport experts believe that role of the movement coordination qualities grows with the athletic progress, with the correlation being particularly expressed in the sports elite excellence trainings rather than beginner training stages [1]; and with the static/ dynamic equilibrium (postural control) skills (i.e. the ability to keep static postures and balance the body in dynamic sports-specific situations) being pivotal in the whole range of movement coordination qualities.

Objective of the study was to offer theoretical grounds for an static/ dynamic balance training model for biathlon elite customizable to the individual progress needs.

Methods and structure of the study. The study was run in 2018-19 at ‘Znezhinka” Federal Sports Training Center owned by Tchaikovsky State Institute of Physical Culture. We analyzed the relevant research literature to classify the movement coordination qualities with a special emphasis on those critical for the biathlon-specific shooting practices. We sampled 25 leading coaches of the regional picked biathlon teams and 40 elite qualifiers for the Russian Biathlon Championship for a questionnaire survey – to find their attitudes to the shooting practices specific movement coordination qualities and run stabilographic tests to rate and analyze the movement coordination qualities in the athletic subsample.

Results and discussion. One of the key requirements for the competitive shooting fitness in elite biathlon is the excellent sport-specific movement coordination qualities test rates, with a special priority given to the postural control muscular control sensitivity (discriminative qualities) [2]. The sport-specific movement coordination qualities were rated and ranked by a biathlon elite questionnaire survey. The coaching subsample gave a highest priority to the fine discriminative qualities (92%) and postural control skills (82%).

It should be noted that stable and perfect postural controls are trained by multiple repetitions with the muscular corset tensions to form and excel the muscle memory, plus special trainings to develop fast response skills for the shooter being able making efficient adjustments for the wind in the aiming process. As reported by the sample, one of the key movement coordination qualities in the prone shooting position is due equilibrium skills (88%). Despite the fact that the prone position is more stable that the standing one, the targets are smaller in diameters and require a fine well-trained setting and tuning of the posture and rifle for success.

As reported by the sample, a key role in the trigger control and pulling technique is played by the response speed (78%), with the shooting hand and finger being perfectly controlled and tuned by harmonic muscular efforts to secure the rifle being perfectly stable. The shooting sequence should be as time-efficient as possible i.e. immediate as soon as the target is fixed. The trigger pulling move will be harmonized with the whole technical sequence with a special role played by the upper body posture control skills, with every bodily part making its perfectly measured contribution. The experts emphasized the contribution of the respiration control skills harmonized with the following movement coordination qualities: pacing skills/ feel of rhythm (90%); bodily parts harmonizing skills (86%) and the attention switchover/ control skills (84%). The shooting posture should be highly standardized by the excellence trainings with every muscle contributing to the shooting sequence in harmony with the breathing rhythm for success. The breathing needs to be smooth and controlled in the aiming process, conditional on every other technical element being perfect and well paced, timed and harmonized. It should be noted that most of the experts were of contradictory opinions on the practical values of a few movement coordination qualities including the spatial orienteering skills and motor skill learning ability that are deemed secondary for competitive progress in biathlon shooting skills.

The elite biathletes’ subsample was tested by a stabilographic test system for the sport-specific movement coordination qualities. Based on the test rates, the athletes were grouped into the following two groups by the key/ predisposed postural control patterns: (1) neuromuscular sensations driven postural control; and (2) the visual control driven postural control group. Having analyzed the static postural control critical for the shooting technique, we found that a key role is played by the tonic interaction of the antagonistic muscle groups with their spatial oscillations. The competitive progress in the shooting skills will be facilitated by a customizable set of static training practices to improve the equilibrium and the relevant sensations.

We offer a new movement coordination qualities training model dominated by isometric exercises, with a biathlete considered an integrated harmonic system, with its perfect performance secured by fine sensations and postural controls in a wide range of the shooting situations and conditions. In contrast to a stereotyped traditional training, the new movement coordination qualities training model prioritizes a range of alternative shooting settings and adaptable techniques customizable to the actual competitive situations. The athlete shall be able to detect and analyze the own errors and make timely and efficient technical decisions to correct the situation in a practical shooting exercise [3].

The postural control skills excellence practices in the biathlon elite training systems are particularly beneficial at the precompetitive training stage when a special emphasis is made on the weapon handling skills and aspects, especially at the end of every training session. The postural control skills excellence practices will be focused on the individual drawbacks in the shooting techniques and tactics, with the difficulty levels of the shooting settings stepped up in the training cycle. The shooting practices may be complicated by: changes in the targeting conditions; changes in the shooting distance; upper/ lower limbs repositioning; changes in the support spot and the spot inclination angles; rubber harnesses on the limbs applied in the trainings; relocations of the elementary weights in the shooter-weapon system etc.

Conclusion. Based on an analysis of the relevant theoretical and practical research literature, we recommend the shooting practices in the biathlon elite trainings being complemented by individualized sets of static postural control practices with a special priority to the equilibrium training elements. Based on a questionnaire survey data, we prioritized the following movement coordination qualities of special importance for the shooting accuracy: fine muscular control/ discriminative qualities; movement pacing (feel of rhythm) skills; equilibrium; response speed; bodily parts harmonizing skills; adaptability; and the attention control/ switchover skills. Based on the test rates, the athletes were grouped into the following two groups by the key/ predisposed postural control patterns: (1) neuromuscular sensations driven postural control; and (2) visual control driven postural control group. The shooting practices of biathlon elite are recommended being complemented by the special postural control training components with:

- Their extensive use in the precompetitive training period;

- Special intensity at the end of each training session;

- The trainings being customized to bridge the gaps in the individual shooting fitness of every athlete.

References

1. Zvereva S.N. Academic shooting training at university. Teaching aid. Tchaikovsky: TSIPC publ., 2014. 83 p.
2. Muraleeva E.V., Chumakov V.N., Ivanov D.I. Shooting competency and motor coordination abilities of qualified biathletes. Sport and sports medicine. Proc. II nat. res.-practical conference with international participation. April 11-13 2019. Tchaikovsky: TSIPC publ., 2019, pp.  166-170.
3. Muraleeva E.V., Chumakov V.N. Rationale for development of sense of balance in shooting training of qualified biathletes. Actual problems of sports science in context of socio-humanitarian knowledge]. Scientific symposium dedicated to the memory of V.K. Bal'sevich, 31.05.2019. M.: RSUPESYT publ., 2019. pp. 35-39.

Corresponding author: ka-muraleeva@yandex.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to offer theoretical grounds for an static/ dynamic balance training model for biathlon elite customizable to the individual progress needs.

Methods and structure of the study. The study was run in 2018-19 at ‘Znezhinka” Federal Sports Training Center owned by Tchaikovsky State Institute of Physical Culture. We analyzed the relevant research literature to classify the movement coordination qualities with a special emphasis on those critical for the biathlon-specific shooting practices. We sampled 25 leading coaches of the regional picked biathlon teams and 40 elite qualifiers for the Russian Biathlon Championship for a questionnaire survey – to find their attitudes to the shooting practices specific movement coordination qualities and run stabilographic tests to rate and analyze the movement coordination qualities in the athletic subsample.

Results and conclusions. Based on an analysis of the relevant theoretical and practical research literature, we recommend the shooting practices in the biathlon elite trainings being complemented by individualized sets of static postural control practices with a special priority to the equilibrium training elements. Based on a questionnaire survey data, we prioritized the following movement coordination qualities of special importance for the shooting accuracy: fine muscular control/ discriminative qualities; movement pacing (feel of rhythm) skills; equilibrium; response speed; bodily parts harmonizing skills; adaptability; and the attention control/ switchover skills. Based on the test rates, the athletes were grouped into the following two groups by the key/ predisposed postural control patterns: (1) neuromuscular sensations driven postural control; and (2) visual control driven postural control group. The shooting practices of biathlon elite are recommended being complemented by the special postural control training components.