Biomechanical characteristics of sports technique key elements of the back layout somersault with 900° twist on floor in women’s artistic gymnastics

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to highlight the kinematic and dynamic characteristics of the phasic structure of the acrobatic element called back layout somersault with 900° twist on floor in women’s artistic gymnastics. This scientific approach led to the organization of an ascertaining study conducted throughout the National Master Championship held from 16th to 18th of November 2012 in ”Nadia Comăneci” Multifunctional Hall of Onesti. A number of 5 gymnasts (finalists on floor) aged 12 to 14, members of the training junior team of Deva, participated in this study. The following methods have been used during the research: method of bibliographic study, method of pedagogical observation, method of video biomechanical analysis, using Physics Toolkit program, experimental method, statistical method (PyPlot) and method of graphical representation. The results of the kinematic characteristics of sports technique key elements used in back layout somersault with 900° twist on floor highlight the phasic sequence of the execution, in terms of preparatory movement made from round-off – back flip connection, moment of taking off of the floor – launching posture, multiplication of body posture (flight phase of the somersault) and the concluding posture – with landing or with launching posture for connection with a front tucked somersault. The analytical biomechanical video processing of each segment pointed out the characteristics of spatial-temporal indicators of sports technique key elements in the case of back layout somersault with 900° twist on floor, according to the data on joints trajectories movement and the graphical representation of the whole body segments of junior gymnasts aged 12 to 14; the somersaults were performed under the conditions of National Master Championship of Artistic Gymnastics 2012. The effective use of the video biomechanical analysis method of back layout somersault with 900° twist highlighted the kinematic and dynamic characteristics of sports technique key elements in accordance with the performances achieved in competitions.