Ideomotor learning as part of the long-jump technique training in children in the age range of 12 to 13 years
Abstract
Physical activity is an important part of the proper psychomotor development of children, daily routine of all individuals, and an important preventive factor in the occurrence of obesity and other civilisation diseases. Ideomotor learning may help to improve the technique of performing individual movement skills, but it may also help with self-image problems, and the creation of aspiration in individuals.
The objective of our experiment was to find out whether the application of ideomotor training has any effect on the correct technical performance of the long jump in children.
The research sample consisted of children (n = 30) in the age range of 12 to 13 years, who were included in athletic training sessions which took place three times a week. The control group consisted of 15 children (nC = 15), and the experimental group consisted of 15 children (nE = 15) too. The experimental group underwent ideomotor training for a period of three months.
At both the beginning and the end of our experiment, the long-jump technique was evaluated in children. This evaluation was carried out by two independent experts, who gave one grade (in the range between one and five) to each child. The experts evaluated the connection of approach run and take-off, as well as the flight phase and landing.
Children from the experimental group were involved in ideomotor training for 10 minutes after each physical training session. Our experiment was performed in a transitional period, in which technical training was not included, while the main emphasis was laid on the development of motor skills. Every ideomotor intervention contained relaxation and imaginary phases. The relaxation phase ensured calming and concentration. The aim of the imagination phase was to create the correct idea in the mind of each child, and a phased movement action of the correct technique of the long jump was presented to all children.
The data was evaluated by means of absolute and relative frequencies, and the statistical significance was evaluated by means of the Wilcoxon test (program Statistica 6.0).
In the experimental group, the improved quality of long-jump technique was noticed in 80% of the probands, while 20% of the probands did not show any change. Nobody got worse. In the control group, the improved quality of long-jump technique was noticed in 33.3% of the probands, while 6.7% of the probands got worse, and 60% of the probands did not change their long-jump technique. Using the Wilcoxon test, we also confirmed a significant improvement in the experimental group, while the control group showed only a small improvement.
Our research has shown that ideomotor training affects the technical performance of the long jump. We are of the opinion that the inclusion of ideomotor intervention in athletic training will improve the correct idea of the event technique, where it is necessary to combine the development of the maximum speed and accuracy of the movement chain during the long jump.