KINEMATICS OF THE SPRINGBOARD PHASE IN YURCHENKO-STYLE VAULTS

Abstract

The object of this study is the kinematics analysis of the center of mass (COM) in the springboard phase of the Yurchenko-style vault performed by 14 female gymnasts during the 2006 Italian Championship for Clubs. The purpose was to widen the biomechanics knowledge about this phase. Temporal, horizontal and vertical spatial, horizontal and vertical velocity and body’s angle parameters were estimated. A representative kinematics analysis of the Yurchenko’s springboard phase was compiled based on these parameters. The results indicated that the gymnasts use the board to avoid a large decrease in the COM horizontal velocity and increase their COM vertical velocity. These were realizing by a great body’s angle at the board impact, reducing the amount of the downward motion in the gathering and maximizing the successive upward lift of the COM.