Dr. Hab., Associate Professor V.V. Farbey¹
Applicant E.G. Zhevlakov^1
1Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, St. Petersburg

Corresponding author: farbeyv@mail.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to test benefits of a respiratory practices prioritizing universal competitive fitness model for elite biathletes.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for the new universal competitive fitness model testing experiment highly skilled biathletes (CMS, n=26) from the Herzen State Pedagogical University team, Winter Sports Excellence School, UOR 2 and the Children and Youth Olympic Reserve Sports School in Vyborg district, St. Petersburg. The sample was provisionally split up into the following three Experimental Groups (EG): Racers (n=9), Shooters (n=8) and Universal athletes (n=9). The groups were trained as required by the universal competitive fitness model with the following respiratory practices sets: respiratory practice 1 resting practices; respiratory practice 2 breath holding; respiratory practice 3 forced breathing; respiratory practice 4 with aiming; respiratory practice 5 with a movable rest; respiratory practice 6 mirror-assisted with the rifle; and respiratory practice 7 breath calming-down and relaxation physical exercises with standard breath-control practices traditional for biathlon prior to shooting. Each of the respiratory practices sets was applied in every Experimental Group. The respiratory practices were mastered in the preparatory period in 28 gym training sessions that totaled 51 hours, with pure respiratory practices in every session taking 30-40 minutes. This means that the respiratory practices took 15 hours on the whole i.e. 8% of the total training time for the experimental period.

Results and conclusion. Our analysis of the competitive performance test data showed benefits of the new respiratory practices prioritizing universal competitive fitness model for the elite biathletes as it helps them progress to the universal competitive fitness type – mostly by improvements in the individual deficient shooting elements with progress in the breath control and breath harmonization with the motor skills in the shooting range; and with special improvements in the shooting speed, rhythm and accuracy associated with functional improvements.

Keywords: elite biathlete, respiratory practices, universal competitive fitness.

Background. Competitive fitness in modern biathlon may be defined as composed of the top competitive performance in every sport element, with the total competitive result integrating the shooting success and distance running and, hence, requiring a special training system with interrelated training tools to be prudently managed. Generally, the biathlon elite demonstrates universal competitive fitness although the lower-level sports excellence training groups are still dominated by the so called racers. This disharmony should be countered by special trainings to develop universal competitive fitness with a special emphasis on shooting skills [1]. We assumed that customizable respiratory practices may be beneficial for the universal competitive fitness service to elite biathletes due to the individual functional resource being effectively mobilized with improvements in the competitive adaptability, particularly in the shooting domain, as a basis for success.

Objective of the study was to test benefits of a respiratory practices prioritizing universal competitive fitness model for elite biathletes.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for the new universal competitive fitness model testing experiment highly skilled biathletes (CMS, n=26) from the Herzen State Pedagogical University team, Winter Sports Excellence School, UOR 2 and the Children and Youth Olympic Reserve Sports School in Vyborg district, St. Petersburg. The sample was provisionally split up into the following three Experimental Groups (EG): Racers (n=9), Shooters (n=8) and Universal athletes (n=9). The groups were trained as required by the universal competitive fitness model with the following respiratory practices sets: respiratory practice 1 resting practices; respiratory practice 2 breath holding; respiratory practice 3 forced breathing; respiratory practice 4 with aiming; respiratory practice 5 with a movable rest; respiratory practice 6 mirror-assisted with the rifle; and respiratory practice 7 breath calming-down and relaxation physical exercises with standard breath-control practices traditional for biathlon prior to shooting [2].  Each of the respiratory practices sets was applied in every Experimental Group. The respiratory practices were mastered in the preparatory period in 28 gym training sessions that totaled 51 hours, with pure respiratory practices in every session taking 30-40 minutes. This means that the respiratory practices took 15 hours on the whole i.e. 8% of the total training time for the experimental period.

Results and discussion. The respiratory-practices-based universal competitive fitness model testing experiment found the following most effective respiratory practices for the groups: forced breathing with the rest respiratory practices for Shooters; respiratory practices with aiming for Racers; and the aiming and mirror-assisted respiratory practices with the rifle for Universals [2]. Based on the practical respiratory practices combining and testing experiences, the groups were trained outdoors and in gyms using the following respiratory practice sets:

1) Three resting slow inhales-exhales followed by four deep inhales with forced exhales, and then again resting respiratory practices;

2) Three forced inhales with slow exhales plus three resting respiratory practices cycles, then four slow deep inhales with loud forced exhales, then again resting respiratory practices;

3) Three deep slow inhales-exhales with three resting respiratory practices cycles followed by four slow deep inhales with forced exhales ended up by resting respiratory practices.

Having tested the respiratory practices sets on the outdoor shooting ranges and indoor training machines with biofeedback in prone and standing positions, we found the following most effective respiratory practices: respiratory practices-1 for the Shooters; respiratory practices -2 for the Universal athletes; and respiratory practices-3 for the Racers (p<0.05) [2]. In the experimental period we analyzed the group progresses in the competitive performance tests classified by the shooting and running elements in the precompetitive and competitive stages: see Table hereunder.

Table 1. Pre- versus post-experimental competitive performance test rates of Shooters (S), Racers (R) and Universals (U)

The new respiratory practices prioritizing universal competitive fitness model for elite biathletes was tested beneficial as verified by their progress of every EG by 33.5% due to the more time-efficient shooting styles and higher shooting accuracy. Thus, the Racers made the 15.5% and 12.5% progress in the prone shooting accuracy and total shooting time, respectively; due to improvements in the shooting rhythm and shot-to-shot breath control by 21.5% and 14%, respectively (p < 0.05). The Shooters were tested with 10% and 16.5% progress in the shooting accuracy and standing shooting time, respectively; due to improvements in the shooting rhythm and breath control 20.5% and 13%, respectively (p <0.05). And the Universal athletes made progress in the total shooting time by 14%, shooting rhythm by 19.5% and shot-to-shot breath control by 21% (p <0.05).

The pre- versus post-experimental competitive fitness test data analysis showed that the three groups made a significant progress in the shooting speed and accuracy; and the numbers of athletes upgraded to the universal competitive fitness type increased by 34.6% as a result of the experimental training. This finding may be interpreted as indicative of the practical benefits of the respiratory practices in elite biathlon as it helps train universally fit competitors, with progress made both in the shooting skills and, in case of racers, in the individual race times by 8% (p <0.05). The racing progress is due to the improved physical fitness with more stable and high results versus the shooters and universal athletes, particularly in the long- distance biathlon disciplines. As a result of the experimental training, the EG biathletes won 9 first, 6 second and 11 third places in competitions for the study period, with seven athletes upgraded to Masters for Sports.

Conclusion. Our analysis of the competitive performance test data showed benefits of the new respiratory practices prioritizing universal competitive fitness model for the elite biathletes as it helps them progress to the universal competitive fitness type – mostly by improvements in the individual deficient shooting elements with progress in the breath controls and breath harmonization with the motor skills in the shooting range; and with special improvements in the shooting speed, rhythm and accuracy associated with functional improvements.

References

1. Farbey V.V. Formation of type of competitive fitness in all-round skiers at sport mastery excellence stages. Uchenye zapiski universiteta im. P.F. Lesgafta, 2012, no. 3 (85), pp. 180-184.
2. Farbey V.V., Zhevlakov E.G., Klimushin K.G. et al. Regulated breathing modes in pre-season shooting practices of skilled biathletes. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury. 2018. No. 8. pp. 67-69.