WITHIN SUBJECT VARIABILITY ANALYSIS REVEALS A TRANSITION POINT FOR THE LONGSWING ACROSS AGE GROUPS

Abstract

This research aimed to observe changes in the within subject variability of the longswing performance and coordination across age groups in gymnasts divided by their competition level, from younger (group 1) to experts (group 5). Data were collected by two video cameras. Performance and coordinative within subject variability were calculated by the standard deviation (inter-trial variability) and the deviation phase (intra-trial variability). Results only showed significant group differences for within subject variability (inter- and intra-trial) in the SD P3H-P3S. In addition, group 4 (14.78±0.57 yrs) showed both large inter-trial variability in the upswing shoulder flexion (P3) and large intra-trial variability during hip and shoulder extension (P2) and P3. Such large variability in group 4 suggests a transition point towards the experts´ performance and coordination (19.96±3.37 yrs).