PhD, Professor, Honored Trainer of Russia N. S. Zagursky¹
PhD, Honored Master of Sports Y.S. Romanova^1
1Siberian State University of Physical Culture and Sports, Omsk

Corresponding author: fizkult@teoriya.ru

Abstract

 The article presents the data of testing the shooting skills of  biathletes of the Russian national team, obtained with the help of the SCATT MX-W2 wireless optical sensor and the analysis program. The analysis of the shooting parameters obtained using the SCATT MX-W2 wireless optical sensor makes it possible to develop an algorithm for managing the improvement of the shooting training of biathletes when firing  ammunition. The examples of individual analysis of graphic and digital parameters of the technique of performing a series of shots are shown, which makes it possible to identify errors, develop individual programs for shooting training and recommending ways to eliminate the identified deficiencies.

Keywords: shooting in biathlon, biathletes of the Russian national team, analysis of parameters of shooting skills, wireless optical sensor SCATT MX-W2.

Introduction. Shooting simulators SCATT are widely used in the training of shooters and biathletes [1, 2]. This simulator allows you to get an objective assessment of the athletes' shooting fitness. Misses in the conditions of training and competitive activity can be caused by many factors, the main of which are insufficiently good fit of the rifle stock, errors in aiming and handling the trigger [1, 2, 3, 4]. Without the use of technical means, it is difficult for a coach to give an objective assessment of shooting skills and to identify the reasons for mistakes. With the advent of new approaches to the design of shooting simulators, a decrease in their weight and dimensions, it became possible to use them widely during idle training and firing with cartridges. The possibility of wireless data transmission during aiming and firing a shot has largely changed the methodological approaches to the use of SCATT MX-W2 in the shooting training of athletes. This is relevant in biathlon, where the athlete makes a lot of manipulations with the weapon during the preparation and shooting at five targets. Especially valuable for biathlon is the fact that an athlete can perform complex training, moving along a distance with a weapon with a wireless sensor attached to it, and perform a series of rounds of live ammunition in a shooting range at five targets, taking into account the specifics of shooting in biathlon.

Objective of the study was to analyze the results of a series of shots, expressed in graphic and digital format, obtained with the help of the SCATT MX-W2 wireless optical sensor in highly qualified biathletes.

Research methods and structure. The study involved 25 biathletes of the Russian national team of the main and reserve teams with qualifications of masters of sports, international masters of sports, Honored masters of sports, aged 20-30 years. The total number of recorded training sessions was 154, with the number of shots in one training being from 50 to 150. After zeroing in the weapon, the athletes fired in a series of five shots at the installations in the conditions of the shooting range with live ammunition with a wireless sensor attached to the barrel at rest and after physical exertion (fig. 1).

When shooting with the use of SCATT MX-W2, the work is based on feedback, the athlete and the coach can immediately assess the ammunition firing performance on the computer screen and compare these indicators with their inner feelings [1, 2].

Figure 1. Fragment of shooting training using a wireless optical sensor SCATT MX-W2 at biathlete international masters of sports

Results and discussion. The testing made it possible to obtain objective and detailed information about the microstructure of the technique of a series of shots individually for each spotter, to identify errors made in the process of aiming and handling the trigger.

The program allows you to analyze several informative graphs and many statistical parameters. The SCATT MX-W2 shooting simulator makes it possible to receive and analyze a large amount of information about the shot in digital and graphic format during idle training and firing live ammunition. Figure 2 and Table 1 show a graphical and digital display of the technique of shots from a prone and standing position at biathlete international masters of sports using the SCATT MX-W2 wireless optical sensor when firing ammunition.

Figure 2. Graphic display of the technique for performing shots from a prone position and standing at rest using a wireless optical sensor SCATT MX-W2 at biathlete international masters of sports

Table 1. Results of a series of shots, expressed in digital format, obtained using a wireless optical sensor SCATT MX-W2 at biathlete international masters of sports

Shooting with ammunition after physical exertion is characterized by a significant decrease in the level of stability of the "athlete - weapon" system in relation to shooting without physical exertion (Fig. 2 and Table 1). The sum of points per shot is reduced from 9.74 ± 0.5 to 8.7 ± 1.4 points. The stability of weapons in the 10a0 size decreases both in shooting from a prone position and when standing. Graphical analysis showed that the curve of coordination and mixing of the moment of the shot leaves the aiming line 0.2 s before the shot, which indicates the loss of control over the aiming line at the moment of firing the shot. This may be due to the displacement of the middle point at the last moment of the shot, which is due to a number of errors at the final stage of the production of the shot. Figures 3 and 4 show typical mistakes when shooting from prone and standing positions using SCATT MX-W2.

Figure 3. Examples of errors in the aiming technique and the execution of a shot when firing live ammunition from a prone position without physical exertion using the SCATT MX-W2 wireless optical sensor at biathlete masters of sports

When firing ammunition from a prone position, biathletes most often encountered loss of control over the lumen of concentric rings when aiming and firing shots (A), twitching with the index finger during triggering (B), involuntary contraction of the muscles of the hand holding the weapon (the long green line deviates to the left beyond the size of the black target apple) (B).

The most typical mistakes when firing ammunition from a standing position among biathletes include instability when firing a shot (A), shooting "on the wire" (the weapon does not stop at the target) (B), shooting "to catch" the target (C).

Figure 4. Examples of errors in aiming technique and execution of a shot when firing live ammunition from a standing position without physical exertion using the SCATT MX-W2 wireless optical sensor at biathlete masters of sports

Conclusions.  The analysis of the shooting parameters obtained using the SCATT MX-W2 wireless optical sensor makes it possible to develop an algorithm for controlling the improvement of the shooting training of biathletes when firing  ammunition in the conditions of training activity. The analysis of graphic and digital parameters of the technique of performing a series of shots allows to identify errors and develop individual programs for shooting training, recommend ways to eliminate the identified shortcomings. Based on the analysis of the dynamics of changes in the graphic and digital parameters of the series of shots in the conditions of complex training, the trainer has the ability to predict the athlete’ fitness as accurately as possible.

References

1. Zagursky N.S., Rostovtsev P.A., Gushcha S.Y. Improving shooting training of highly qualified biathletes on the basis of urgent information. Modern system of sports training in biathlon: materials of the All-Russian scientific and practical conference (Omsk, April 24-25, 2013). Omsk: Siberian State University of Physical Culture Publ., 2013. pp. 275–288.
2. Kudelin A.I. Improvement of aiming technique among shooters and biathletes. Modern system of sports training in biathlon: materials of the All-Russian scientific-practical conference (Omsk, April 27-29, 2011). Omsk: Siberian State University of Physical Culture Publ., 2011. pp. 146–154.
3. Mamatov V.F. Training and improvement of shooting skills in biathlo. 2nd ed. Omsk: Siberian State University of Physical Culture Publ., 2011. 90 p.
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