Abstract des Autors

Rhythmic gymnastics is a sophisticated sport where success of athletes depends not only on excellent coordination skills but also on some important components as choreography and flexibility. In order to improve gymnasts’ coordination abilities, which would enable stable performance with various combinations, measures that allows improving quality level should be developed. Observation has shown that young athletes in Lithuania encounter such challenges. Hence, there were developed different relay options that includes various exercises with and without apparatus. Research aim: to test 9-10 years old girls’ coordination and flexibility skills through relay complexes during rhythmic gymnastics trainings and to examine performance with pedagogical experiment. Research methodology: analysis of literature, educational experiment, testing, mathematical statistics methods: arithmetic mean (X) and its standard error (Sx), standard deviation (S), coefficient of variation (V), reliability standard (p). The content of the experimental relay program included exercises with and without ribbons, ball handling, gymnastics hops with and without jump rope, jumping through hoops, static balance, acrobatic and other exercises. At the beginning and the end of work out there were tested athletes’ features of flexibility and wider level of coordination skills. At the end of every second training girls from E1 group were divided in to two groups and had to run four different content relays. During experimental period girls had effectively improved coordination abilities, physical features, however, only in the long jump sideways (p>0.05) the average differences were statistically unreliable. E2 group worked in accordance with a coach’s predetermined program. Girls’ coordination skills have changed slightly. The employment of the developed relay complexes during rhythmic gymnastics exercises affected girls’ tested skills. The game form is effective training mode for development of coordination skills for 9-10 years old gymnasts.