Development of coordination abilities in cheerleaders at the stage of initial preparation

Abstract

Cheerleading is a young and rapidly developing sport that comprises many technically complex elements for which coordination plays a special role. In cheerleading, the coordination abilities are considered as the sum of maintaining balance, orienting in space, and combining movements, which allows to successfully acquire new elements under changing conditions. A set of control exercises has been selected to assess various types of motor coordination abilities in cheerleading corresponding to initial preparation. During a survey of cheerleading coaches, the means and methods used in working with athletes were identified. A pedagogical experiment was conducted with girls aged 7–8 years from the initial preparation stage. Non-standard exercises, which were selected from general, gymnastic, and acrobatic exercises and elements of outdoor games, are identified as the leading means of developing coordination abilities. Variable exercise with different techniques is an effective method of developing coordination abilities in young athletes. According to the results of the experiment, a 54% improvement in static balance in the "Arabesque on the right leg" control exercise was recorded. In the same exercise on the left foot, the improvement was 14.5%. An increase of 11.3% in dynamic coordination was also recorded in the Shuttle run 3 × 10 m control exercise. The increase in dynamic balance in the “Walk the line” test was equal 18.2%. Rhythm abilities improved by 63.1%. The increase in locomotor agility and spatial orientation in the “Running to the ball” test amounted to 13.2%. Complex reactions improved by 8.7%, vestibular resistance - by 11.8%. The ability to coordinate movements in the “Overstepping the gymnastic stick” test increased by 24.7%, the ability to motor adaptation - by 41.9%.