A.S. Krivtsov¹
PhD, Associate Professor Y.V. Nechushkin^1
1Bauman Moscow State Technical University (National Research University), Moscow

Keywords: self-suggestion with ideomotor training model, rifle shooting, hearing-impaired academic shooters, mental and physical training.

Background. Mental stress tolerance in modern sports is known to directly depend on the individual natural stress sensitivity [6], with mental stress control skills being particularly critical for the hearing impaired athletes exposed to special stressors due to, among other things, hampered responses to the coach's commands [2, 5, 6]. Study reports on the subject offer a wide range of special mental control and conditioning systems; whilst the self-suggestion with ideomotor training tools in application to the hearing impaired athletes, as we believe, deserve special interest and studies to analyze their potential benefits [1].

Objective of the study was to test and analyze benefits of a new self-suggestion with ideomotor training model for academic hearing impaired rifle shooting sport.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for the purposes of the study (run in November 1, 2018 to November 1, 2019) the hearing impaired students (n=18), 2 Physical Education teachers and 5 rifle shooting instructors of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University’s Physical Education Department, including Honored Master of Sports (n=1), World Class Masters of Sports (n=2), Masters of Sports (n=7) and Candidate Masters of Sports (n=8). The sample was split up into Experimental and Reference Groups (EG, RG) of 9 people each. The sample used air rifles, modern shooting equipment and accessories, SCATT shooting simulators equipped with laptops, and Record-10 targets. The tests were run under control of the coaches and instructors who recorded the training and competitive shooting scores and individual training progress for further analysis.

The self-suggestion with ideomotor training model includes a mental and physical training module with a perfect shot visualizing (ideomotor training) component. Before mastering the self-suggestion with ideomotor training basics with the self-control elements, the trainees were expected to understand logics of the following two key mental activation mechanisms. The first one implies words with the relevant senses and images being activated in a relaxed and mentally passive state close to a nap when the autonomic nervous system (that can hardly be controlled by conscious efforts) may be partially mobilized. And the second self-suggestion mechanism implies the ability to focus reasonably relaxed attention on what need to be done at the moment.

Furthermore, any business is known to require special attention, and the more attentive we are, the more successfully it goes with a higher efficiency rate. The self-suggestion with ideomotor training practices are normally run in recumbent posture with legs slightly apart, bent hands rested aside, with the head on a comfortable pillow. Alternatively, trainees may sit on the ground back to a chair or wall. And the third and more difficult posture is what I.G. Schultz, developer of the auto-suggestion method, called a coachman pose.

For the mental and physical training facilitation purposes, muscles are classified into five groups: (1) arms; (2) legs; (3) trunk; (4) neck; and (5) face [3, 4]. After the trainees have taken a comfortable posture and closed their eyes, the instructor will slowly and quietly verbalize the mental and physical training formulas with the trainees repeating them in mind trying to visualize every word in a specific vivid image. In a relaxing part of the mental and physical training session, the following verbal formulas may be used: I relax and calm down ...; My hands relax and warm up ...; My hands are completely relaxed ... warm ... motionless ...; My legs are relaxed and warm, etc. [1]. The deeper is the individual immersion in a dreamlike hypnotic state, the more pleasant and peaceful will be the feelings, with the trainee expected to memorize the mindset as a plane of comfortable color easily imaginable later on. The verbal formulas may also be used right before a training or shooting, with exception of the relaxing part of the mental and physical training. Prior to a shot, the shooter is recommended to visualize it making sure that the time costs of the mental exercise and actual shot are about the same.

In actual competitions, the perfect shot securing formulas may be verbalized in mind between the shooting rounds/ groups and in the rest breaks at the mental tuning times. The perfect shot formulas may include the following statements: “Great mood, eager to start”; “Actions come easy, confident”; "Legs are relaxed"; "Thigh goes up"; "Left hand off", etc. In actual practice, such initial perfect shooting statements tend to shorten with time, with the least efficient screened out, and the remaining cemented in a few fast forms. In the practical self-suggestion with ideomotor training model testing experiment, the original 14 perfect shot formulas were reduced to seven: "Left off"; "Right tight"; "Obedient finger"; "The front sight heavy"; "Freeze"; "Trigger"; and "Check".

The training was started from the mental and physical training basics mastering stage. Every mental and physical training session consisted of the following three parts: relaxing part for everybody; individual perfect shot securing formulas; and a mobilizing part customizable as required by the specific goals. Individual progresses in the self-suggestion with ideomotor training model testing experiment were rated using the following criteria: shooting stability in trainings and competitions (average shooting scores); and shooting heart rate versus the standard.

Results and discussion. Individual and group progresses in the self-suggestion with ideomotor training model testing experiment were rated using the above test criteria: see Table 1 hereunder.

Table 1. Hearing-impaired rifle shooters’ progresses in the self-suggestion with ideomotor training model testing experiment

As demonstrated by the above, the pre-experimental shooting stability rates in the EG and RG were virtually the same at 577 and 578 points, respectively, whilst the post-experimental tests found progresses of 4 and 2 points, respectively.

Conclusion. The new self-suggestion with ideomotor training model was tested beneficial as verified by the competitive shooting stability progress of 4 points in the EG versus 2 points in the RG; plus the meaningful stabilization of the heart rate in the EG as a sound basis for progress in trainings and competitions. Based on the experimental data and analysis, we have grounds to recommend the new self-suggestion with ideomotor training model for application in the academic hearing impaired rifle shooting sports for progress in mental control and stress tolerance in trainings and competitions.

References

1. Alekseev A.V. AHIT system: way to accuracy. M.: Fizkultura i sport publ., 2004. 176 p.
2. Kozyr K.A., Palekhova E.S. Сoach professional skills building in shooting sports]. Theory and methodology of training in practical shooting, other shooting sports and shooting disciplines in all-around. Proc. IV nat. res.-pract. conf. with international participation. 2018. pp. 25-29.
3. Kublanov A.M., Popova I.E., Palekhova E.S. Dynamics of bioelectric activity of muscles used to hold weapon in aiming position in carbine shooting practice in beginner athletes]. Theory and methodology of training in practical shooting, other shooting sports and shooting disciplines in all-around. Proc. III nat. res.-pract. conf. with international participation. 2017. pp. 24-30.
4. Kublanov A.M., Popova I.E., Palekhova E.S. Study of dynamics of skeletal muscle strength distribution in 1st year junior females when holding the weapon in the aiming position during a series of aimed shots at a moving target. Theory and methodology of training in practical shooting, other shooting sports and shooting disciplines in all-around. Proc. IV nat. res.-pract. conf. with international participation. 2018. S. 36-42.
5. Palekhova E.S. SCATT Trainer in shooter training. At the turn of the XXI century. 2004]. Nauchny almanakh MGAFK. Malakhovka, 2004. pp. 171-178.
6. Nikolaev A.P., Pisareva A.V., Apollonova I.A., Muzychenko I.N., Zhang L., Malikova S.G. Development of a method for assessing the effects of chronic stress on the human body (Conference Paper). Journal of Physics: Conference SeriesVolume 1118, Issue 1, 10 December 2018, 012027International Conference Complex Equipment of Quality Control Laboratories 2018; Saint-Petersburg; Russian Federation; 17 July 2018-19 July 2018; code 143285.

Corresponding author: krivtsov.alexandr@yandex.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to test and analyze benefits of a new self-suggestion with ideomotor training model for academic hearing impaired rifle shooting sport

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for the purposes of the study (run in November 1, 2018 to November 1, 2019) the hearing impaired students (n=18), 2 Physical Education teachers and 5 rifle shooting instructors of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University’s Physical Education Department, including an Honored Master of Sports (n=1), World Class Masters of Sports (n=2), Masters of Sports (MS, n=7) and Candidate Masters of Sports (n=8). The sample was split up into Experimental and Reference Groups (EG, RG) of 9 people each. The sample used air rifles, modern shooting equipment and accessories, SCATT shooting simulators equipped with laptops, and Record-10 targets. The tests were run under control of the coaches and instructors who recorded the training and competitive shooting scores and individual training progress for further analysis.

Results and conclusion. The new self-suggestion with ideomotor training model was tested beneficial as verified by the competitive shooting stability progress of 4 points in the EG versus 2 points in the RG; and the significant stabilization of the heart rate in the EG as a sound basis for progress in trainings and competitions. Based on the experimental data and analysis, we have grounds to recommend the new self-suggestion with ideomotor training model for application in the academic hearing impaired rifle shooting sports for progress in mental control and stress tolerance in trainings and competitions.