RELATIONSHIP OF BIOMECHANICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS BETWEEN PRACTICE AND COMPETITION IN POLE VAULTING

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships of biomechanical parameters, cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self confidence changes between competition and practice in the pole vault. Seven pole vaulters were videotaped in practice and competition and completed the Competition Sport Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). A Pearson Correlation was computed to examine relationships between the difference score of the means for the competition and practice vaults of all the parameters. Several significant correlations were found (p<.05) which included: maximum horizontal velocity with maximum vertical velocity and with second to last stride length, maximum vertical velocity with last stride length, horizontal velocity at the last step with elbow extension, and second to last stride length with self confidence.