Dr.Sc.Psychol., Professor B.P. Yakovlev¹
Dr.Hab., Professor G.D. Babushkin²
The post-graduate student R.E. Rybin²
PhD, Professor E.G. Babushkin³
Postgraduate student I.B. Tarasenko^1
1Surgut State University, Surgut
²Siberian State University of Physical Culture and Sports, Omsk
³Omsk State Technical University, Omsk

 

Keywords: elite swimmers, pre-competitive meso-cycle, competitive performance.

 

Introduction. The specific feature of pre-competitive conditioning of athletes is that training sessions are to ensure to form (or keep) their fitness shape. Sports training at this stage is focused on the excellence of the athletes’ special physical fitness, technical and tactical skills as they will be applied in the upcoming competitions [1, 3, 4]. Here, the share of conditioning training decreases while that of special training, competitive exercises increases.

Objective of the study was to substantiate the content of the elite swimmers' pre-competitive conditioning.

Methods and structure of the study. The study was carried out at the premises of the "Albatross" swimming pool in Omsk during the preparation for the Siberian Federal Area Championship (2016, 2017). 16 elite sprint swimmers (CMS, MS), split up into two groups - Reference (RG) and Experimental group (EG) were subject to the study. The training sessions for the EG athletes were conducted according to the developed special pre-competitive conditioning model. The RG athletes trained according to the standard training program for swimmers.

Particular attention was paid to the swimmers’ general condition, mood, activity right after the training sessions in order to correct their future training load.

The structure of the pre-competitive conditioning process is presented as a system of micro-cycles, each lasting one week: retractive, lead-up, intensive, rehabilitative, supportive, simulative and others that include a certain volume and intensity of training load. The desired configuration of the pre-competitive conditioning process consists in the control of the cumulative training effect in each series of the micro-cycles, while ensuring high rates of development of special physical fitness and preventing the potential violation of the adaptive processes due to the chronic superimposition of the training effect [3].

In different sports, the duration of the pre-competitive conditioning process can vary significantly from 2 to 6 weeks depending on the athletes’ physical fitness level, rank of the upcoming competitions, goals of the participating teams, etc. Prominent scientist in the field of athletic training V.N. Platonov considers a 4-week pre-competitive conditioning program to be optimal [4]. Based on his recommendations, in our work, while designing the pre-competitive conditioning model for sprint swimmers, we will organize the pre-competitive stage consisting of four micro-cycles: shock, rehabilitation and maintenance, intensive, rehabilitation, each lasting 7 days.

As has been demonstrated globally, the athletes’ successful competitive performance largely depends on the coach's ability to rationally and correctly organize the stage of pre-competitive conditioning so as to secure the peak form being reached by the athletes by the main competition [3, 4]. Otherwise, the athletes will not reach the set goals during the competition. There are a lot of such cases in sports practice, even at the national team level.

An important aspect of special pre-competitive conditioning is distribution of the total load (volume and intensity) over weeks and days and selection of the load reduction model (see Figure 1 below). It is in the pre-competitive meso-cycle that special training is completed and an important part of the speed work that predetermines the final result is started. The choice of the model of pre-competitive load reduction is quite important for the pre-competitive meso-cycle design. A gradual reduction in load intensity, which has been in practice until recently, is replaced by wave-like planning of load reduction [4].

While planning the content of the pre-competitive meso-cycle, we gave due consideration to the recommendations of V.N. Platonov [4] and J. Berger [5], according to whom each successive micro-cycle with heavy load was to be conducted against the background of the athletes’ functional state being restored. To avoid physical and mental fatigue of the athletes at the beginning of the competition, the micro-cycles with heavy loads were to be followed by the rehabilitation ones [4, 6].

The total volume of swimming in the first (shock) micro-cycle amounted to 42.600 m, which was 20% higher than in the previous micro-cycle. The increase in the load volume in the first micro-cycle suggested the effect of supercompensation in the succeeding rehabilitative-maintenance micro-cycle. The number of training sessions - 11, two of which were characterized by the highest load (Table 1).

 

Table 1. Distribution of training load in sprint swimming in the pre-competitive meso-cycle

Micro-cycle	Load intensity	Primary focus of load	Volume of swimming load, m	Number of training sessions	Number of high-intensity training sessions
Shock	High	Aerobic-anaerobic	42 600	11	2
Rehabilitation and maintenance	Average	Aerobic Anaerobic-alactic	27 450	10	1
Intensive	High	Aerobic-anaerobic	32 600	10	2
Rehabilitation	Low	Aerobic Anaerobic-alactic	18 150	8	-

 

The first pre-competitive conditioning micro-cycle was primarily focused on special work in the high and submaximal power zones that predominated in this micro-cycle (see Figure 1). The main training tasks aimed to increase the speed-strength endurance and energy intensity of the anaerobic-alactic energy supply system.

 

Figure 1. Load intensity in the Experimental Group depending on power zones in pre-competitive meso-cycle (%).

Legend: 1, 2, 3, 4 – micro-cycles.

 

The main difference between the wave-like and gradual load reduction is that the total volume of load in the second (rehabilitation and maintenance) weekly micro-cycle significantly decreases - to 27.450 m and that the work power zones change, which is achieved by slightly shortened training sessions and focus of the main training tasks. During this period, the athletes have the opportunity to recover and switch to practicing complex exercises, which are actively introduced at this stage. As opposed to the first micro-cycle, the number of sprint tasks increases, the performance of which does not cause any significant functional shifts in the athletes’ body; however, they actively work in the maximum power zone, thus performing good high-speed work. Load decrease in the second micro-cycle enables swimmers to recover, which is very important for performing high-speed work and higher intensity work in the successive (intensive) micro-cycle.

When starting the third (intensive) weekly micro-cycle, the volume of training load increased to 32.600 m, and the recovered athletes were ready to perform a significant amount of work and special tasks. The competitions are getting closer and the focus is made on the issue of an individualized approach, since not all swimmers has an equal response to load. Fallouts may be avoided by means of monitoring of the athletes’ physical state and feedback. For this purpose, the swimmers’ pulse rate was measured after waking up, and they performed the SANTUV test of pre-start conditions by A.N. Nikolaev prior to the training session [2]. In case of significant deterioration of the athletes’ health, the nature of training load and its volume were corrected (reduced load intensity, reduced number of training sessions). In the third weekly micro-cycle, special and integrated training were over. The main series and tasks were conducted in the high and submaximal power zones.

The last pre-competitive micro-cycle (rehabilitation) aimed to help athletes recover from the load performed. Its volume decreased and amounted to 18.150 m. A significant reduction in load in the high power zone and complication of the maximum intensity sprint tasks did not contradict the main goal of the last micro-cycle, since they were essential for setting the speed at the corresponding competitive distance.

The timely reduction of the training load in the second and fourth micro-cycles was a psychological safety valve enabling the athletes to decrease their anxiety, excessive tension and increase their drive for competitions. The wave-like shifts between the work power zones made it possible to diversify the training process and avoid monotony, which was especially important before the competition. Exclusion of the tasks that caused significant functional shifts in the athletes’ body in the fourth micro-cycle created the necessary conditions for making them more confident of their own abilities and desire to demonstrate the best result. At this pre-competitive training stage an individualized approach to planning training tasks based on the physical state monitoring takes on a particular significance. This was also emphasized by L.P. Matveyev [3]. When developing the training tasks (load volume, exercise orientation), we were guided by the athletes’ physical condition.

Results and discussion. The given special pre-competitive conditioning program for sprint swimmers was tested during the 2016 and 2017 Siberian Federal Area Championships. Table 2 demonstrates the results of the EG swimmers’ competitive performance in Abakan (2017).

 

Table 2. Competitive performance results in the Experimental Group (minutes/ seconds)

Athletes	50 m	100 m	200 m
К.А.	31.90 /  31.35 (breaststroke)	58.74 / 57.04 (free style)	2.17.59 / 2.13.16 (medley swimming)
S.N.	24.98 / 25.47 (free style)	54.78 / 55.78 (free style)	2.01.59 / 2.03.69 (free style)
R.А.	25.90 / 25.42 (free style)	57.37/ 55.05 (free style)	2.16.45 / 2.15.56 (medley swimming)
T.I.	25.82 / 25.95 (free style)	55.38 / 54.88 (free style)	2.04.82 / 2.00.71 (free style)
G.G.	27.03 / 27.21 (dolphin)	59.80 / 1.01.14 (dolphin)
К.G.	27.50 / 27.04 (dolphin)	1.03.19 / 1.00.91 (dolphin)	2.34.06 / 2.24.50 (dolphin)
К.К.	31.70 / 30.60 (backstroke)	1.05.50 / 1.04.56 (backstroke)	2.25.30 / 2.25.00 (backstroke)

Note. First value – entry time, second value – actual time demonstrated by the athlete. Bold-face type – achievement of the claimed result.

 

The EG athletes participated in the 50m, 100m, and 200m swim tests. In most of them, the EG swimmers reached and exceeded the entry time. The entry time was improved in 14 starts out of 20 (i.e. in 70% of the cases). Moreover, some swimmers (4 subjects) reached their entry time in all three tests. The RG swimmers started 27 times and reached and exceeded their entry time only in 4 starts - 15%. The differences in the competitive performance of the EG and RG swimmers were statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion. The results obtained in the Experimental Group testify to a sufficiently high level of effectiveness of the proposed training system, which allows recommending it for application in the pre-competitive conditioning process of elite swimmers. The fundamental provisions of the conditioning model can also be realized in the training processes in other cyclic sports with the predominant use of speed qualities.

 

References

1. Babushkin G.D., Yakovlev B.P., Apokin V.V. Psihologicheskie faktory, obuslovlivayuschie realizatsiyu podgotovlennosti v sorevnovatelnykh usloviyakh [Psychological factors to contribute to effective implementation of athlete's capacities under competitive conditions]. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 2015, no. 3, pp. 84-86.

2. Nikolaev A.N. Metodiki izucheniya lichnosti i deyatelnosti trenera [Coach's personality and activity: research methods]. St. Petersburg: SPbSAPhE publ., 2003, 70 p.

3. Matveyev L.P. Obschaya teoriya sporta i ee prikladnye aspekty [General theory of sport and its applied aspects]. Moscow: Sovetskiy sport publ., 2010, 340 p.

4. Platonov V.N. Sistema podgotovki sportsmenov v olimpiyskom sporte [Olympic athletic training system]. Kiev: Olimpiyskaya literatura publ., 2015, Vol.1, 680 p.

5. Berger J. Trainingsinhalt, Trainingsiebungen, - mittel und methoden. Trainingswissenschaft. Berlin: Sportverlag, 1994, pp. 247-259.

6. Ramm K., Bube H. Zur Wirksamkeit des Jahrestrainingsaufbaus im Skilanglauf und im Biathlon bei besonderer Beachtung der Zyklusmethode. Theorie und Praxis Leistungssport, 1986, no. 8/9, pp. 115-127.

 

Corresponding author: boris_yakovlev@mail.ru

 

Abstract

The study was designed to develop and test by an experiment a pre-competitive conditioning model for elite swimmers to improve their competitive performance. One of the ways to improve the performance, as we believe, is to advance the pre-competitive training of the elite sprint swimmers with a special emphasis on the special tools to prevent the unfavorable mental and physical conditions and reach the optimal prestart mindset and fitness for the competitive success. The pre-competitive conditioning process was improved by the microcycle-specific training scope and intensity control tools. The new pre-competitive conditioning model was practically tested in two competitions and proved beneficial as verified by the progress and success of the Experimental Group in the competitions. The new pre-competitive conditioning model tests give the grounds to recommend it for application in the swimmers’ training systems.