19 Dolenc, M., @van, M. (2001). Competitive success of junior female alpine skiers in light of certain chosen… KinSI 7(1–2), 19–22 COMPETITIVE SUCCESS OF JUNIOR FEMALE ALPINE SKIERS IN LIGHT OF CERTAIN CHOSEN TESTS OF CO-ORDINATION POVEZANOST IZBRANIH RAZSE@NOSTI PROSTORA KOORDINACIJE S TEKMOVALNO USPE[NOSTJO MLAJ[IH DEKLIC V ALPSKEM SMU^ANJU Maja Dolenec Milan @van Abstract The objective of this investigation was to determine the mutual correlations between the three variables of co-ordination (ability for efficient resolution of space- related problems, ability for realising rhythmic struc- tures and agility) and their individual correlations with the competitive success of junior female alpine skiers. The sample consisted of twenty-four junior female competitors in alpine skiing. To evaluate their co-or- dination three tests were selected (polygon back- wards, side-stepping, drumming). The criterion va- riable (competitive success) was the sum of points achieved in the competitions of the Radenska Cup. In the first phase of analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficients between the individual independent va- riables and their individual correlations with the cri- terion were computed. The relations between the co- ordination space variables and success in alpine skiing were studied by multiple regression analysis. The mutual correlations between the co-ordination variables were statistically non-significant. The Pear- son correlation coefficients with the criterion were statistically significant for sidestepping (r = -0.50) and polygon backwards (r = -0.43). Multiple regression analysis showed a statistically significant association (Multiple R = 0.56, Sig F = 0.05) between the pre- dictors and the criterion, the independent variables explaining about 31% of the criterion variance. Keywords: co-ordination, competitive success, junior females, alpine skiing Izvle~ek Namen raziskave je bil ugotoviti medsebojne korela- cije treh spremenljivk koordinacije (sposobnost kine- ti~nega re{evanja prostorskih problemov, sposobnost realizacije ritmi~nih struktur in agilnost) ter njihove in- dividualne korelacije s tekmovalno uspe{nostjo mlaj- {ih deklic v alpskem smu~anju. Vzorec merjenk je zajemal {tiriindvajset tekmovalk v kategoriji mlaj{ih deklic v alpskem smu~anju. Za ugo- tavljanje razvitosti koordinacije so bili izbrani trije te- sti (poligon nazaj, koraki v stran, bobnanje). Kriterij- ska spremenljivka (tekmovalna uspe{nost) je bila vsota dose`enih to~k na tekmovanjih Pokala Radenske. V prvi fazi obdelave podatkov so bile izra~unane vred- nosti Pearsonovega korelacijskega koeficienta med posameznimi neodvisnimi spremenljivkami in njiho- ve individualne povezave s kriterijem. Za ugotavljanje povezanosti prostora koordinacije s tekmovalno us- pe{nostjo mlaj{ih deklic v alpskem smu~anju je bila uporabljena metoda regresijske analize. Medsebojne povezave spremenljivk prostora koordi- nacije niso bile statisti~no zna~ilne. S kriterijsko spre- menljivko sta bili zna~ilno povezani spremenljivki ko- raki v stran (r = -0,50) in poligon nazaj (r = -0,43). Z multiplo regresijsko analizo je bila ugotovljena stati- sti~no zna~ilna povezava prediktorskih spremenljivk s kriterijsko, s ~emer spremenljivke prostora koordina- cije pojasnjujejo enaintrideset odstotkov variance kri- terijske spremenljivke. Klju~ne besede: koordinacija, tekmovalna uspe{nost, mlaj{e deklice, alpsko smu~anje (Received: 30. 03. 2001 – Accepted: 14. 12. 2001) Contact address Maja Dolenec University of Ljubljana – Faculty of Sport Gortanova 22 SI-1000 Ljubljana Slovenia Phone: +386 1 540-10-77 Fax: +386 1 540-22-33 E-mail: Maja.Dolenec@sp.uni-lj.si 20 Dolenc, M., @van, M. (2001). Competitive success of junior female alpine skiers in light of certain chosen… KinSI 7(1–2), 19–22 INTRODUCTION The purpose of the study was to find the mutual cor- relations between the independent variables of co- ordination and their individual correlations with com- petitive success of junior female alpine skiers and to assess the association of the complete co-ordination space with the criterion variable (competitive success). On the basis of the computed parameters it is possib- le to find the usefulness of using all or just some of the predictor variables of co-ordination, in order to ex- plain the largest possible proportion of the criterion’s variance. The results of the study would show if co- ordination space is a factor which would enable pre- diction of good placements at competitions, as has al- ready been established by previous authors (Agre`, 1976; @van, Le{nik, & Dolenec, 1995). The importan- ce of co-ordination for success in alpine skiing was assessed in this study from the viewpoint of three fac- tors – ability for efficient resolution of space-related problems, ability for realising rhythmic structures and agility. METHODS The subject sample consisted of twenty-four junior fe- male competitors in alpine skiing (body height 155.1±7.9 cm, body mass 46.2±7.0 kg, age 12.2±0.7 years). Each subject participated in the trai- ning process in one of the Slovene skiing clubs and gathered at least 100 points in the Radenska Cup competition in the season 1995/96. The sample of independent variables consisted of the tests polygon backwards (POLYGON BACKWARDS), sidestepping (SIDE-STEPPING) and rhythmic drum- ming with the arms and the legs (DRUMMING). The variable polygon backwards represents the ability for efficient resolution of space-related problems (Pistot- nik, 1999). The subject must cover a distance of 10 m as fast as possible on all fours backwards, the first obstacle should be climbed over and the second crawled through ([turm, 1977). The variable sidestep- ping measures the ability for fast and efficient change of direction of movement (Pistotnik, 1999). The sub- ject covers a distance of 4 m between two lines (each time crossing the line) with sidesteps left and right six times ([turm, 1977). The third variable measures the ability for co-ordinated movement in rhythm (Pistot- nik, 1999). In the arm and leg drumming test the sub- ject sits in a corner of a room and performs as many correct sequences of the prescribed rhythmic motor cycle (left foot on left wall, right palm on right wall, left palm on left wall and finally right foot on right wall) as possible in the allotted time ([turm, 1977). The criterion variable (competitive success) was the sum of the points (POINTS) achieved in the compe- titions of the Radenska Cup. The sum consisted of two best slalom placements, three giant slalom placements and the best placement in super-giant slalom (points awarded for placements according to the bulletin of the Slovene Skiing Association – Bilten II. SZS, 1996). The basic statistical parameters of all the variables were computed in the first phase of the data analysis. In the second, the Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between the individual independent variables and their individual correlations with the criterion were computed. Statistical significance was tested two-si- dedly, 5% error level was used. In the third part, clas- sic multiple regression analysis was used to assess the correlation of the co-ordination space variables with success in alpine skiing. Here too, 5% statistical signi- ficance was observed. RESULTS The mutual correlations between the co-ordination variables shown in Table 2 are low and statistically non-significant. The two tests with the highest corre- Table 1: Basic statistical parameters of the used variables Table 2: Pearson correlation coefficients between the used variables Mean Std. Dev. Minimum Maximum Sig. K-S POLYGON BACKWARDS 10.09 1.13 7.86 12.50 0.95 SIDE-STEPPING 10.56 0.57 9.55 11.88 0.96 DRUMMING 15.13 3.07 10 24 0.75 POINTS 311.25 226.44 105 885 ----- Legend: K-S Kolmogorov-Smirnov test of distribution normality Legend: statistically significant correlations (p<0.05) are shown in bold POLYGON BACKWARDS DRUMMING SIDE-STEPPING POLYGON BACKWARDS DRUMMING -0.17 SIDE-STEPPING 0.39 -0.23 POINTS -0.43 0.12 -0.50 21 Dolenc, M., @van, M. (2001). Competitive success of junior female alpine skiers in light of certain chosen… KinSI 7(1–2), 19–22 lation with competitive success are precisely those two that also have the highest mutual correlation. The Pearson correlation coefficient with the criterion is so- mewhat higher for the variable sidestepping (r = –0.50), a little lower, but still statistically significant, is the correlation of the test polygon backwards (r = –0.43). The correlation of the third predictor variab- le (drumming) with competitive success proved to be low and statistically non-significant. Multiple regression analysis showed a statistically sig- nificant association between the predictors and the criterion, the independent variables explaining about 31% of the criterion variance. Of the predictor variab- les, the sidestepping test has the largest partial pro- jection, but the beta coefficient is statistically non-sig- nificant. The projections of the other two predictor variables are also statistically non-significant. DISCUSSION The correlations of all the chosen variables shown in Table 2 are low and not statistically significant. Such results therefore prove that the tests representing the individual factors of co-ordination were well chosen. The reason for this might also be the onset of differen- tiatedness of the motorics of junior female alpine skiers. This could happen as a consequence of the training or the selection process – the girls involved in the regular transformation process could start to react differently to different tests of co-ordination. It is also possible to conclude that in the background of both correlated variables (polygon backwards and sidestepping) lie motor tasks that demand the activa- tion of the entire body, and are a combination of com- plex motor structures performed with maximal speed and where a certain order and mode of overcoming an obstacle - or distance - is needed, but are not au- tomated. These characteristics are also typical for mo- tor structures in alpine skiing (Le{nik, 1999). In ski- ing, immediately after the start, the competitor must solve the gate-placement problems at high velocity on a course, which demands movement on a pre-de- termined path (different gate placements). The projections of the two tests with the highest mu- tual correlation on the criterion are statistically signi- ficant. Since the value of the correlation with compe- titive success is greater for the sidestepping variable, this can point to the possibility that the ability for ra- pid and efficient change of direction of body move- ment plays an important role for achieving better re- sults in this sample. The motor structures, which appear in this test, are similar to the nature of move- ment in alpine skiing (@van, & Knez, 1989). Agility, which we measure indirectly with the sidestepping test, can appear in skiing in the form of different cor- rections of movement. It is either a matter of correc- ting the errors during skiing, whose consequence is a too large deviation from the ideal turn path; or a quick adjustment to the appearance of unforeseen factors on the course, such as bad visibility, damaged cour- se… It is possible that those girls that are capable of realising well such motor structures »on dry land«, are also capable of superior and rapid realisation of them on snow in competitive conditions. The correlation of the above-mentioned test with success could pos- sibly also be high because both alpine skiing and this test require speed and explosive power. The statistically significant correlation of the test poly- gon backwards with the criterion variable additionally confirms the importance of a rapid and efficient rea- lisation of complex motor tasks for success in junior female alpine skiing. This test indirectly measures the ability, which is important especially in overcoming different obstacles between the placed gates that ap- pear during competition as a consequence of the ter- rain configuration and atypical gate placements. The run of the course represents a pre-set path with ob- stacles, which have to be overcome as economically and quickly as possible. As in this test, in skiing also whole-body co-ordination and rapid solving of unu- sual motor tasks is important, therefore the high cor- relation is expected. The value of the Pearson correlation coefficient of the variable arm and leg drumming with the criterion va- riable is low and statistically non-significant. This test shows the ability to organise movement into a rhyth- mic cycle. The sense of rhythm is especially required in the technical disciplines of alpine skiing (Mlodzi- kowska, & Tukiendorf, 1991), but it obviously does not correspond also with the chosen sample of com- petitors. The results of this study therefore show that success inside the chosen sample, alongside a multi- Table 3: Multiple regression of the co-ordination variables on the criterion Multiple R R2 St. Err. Sig. F Beta Sig. T POINTS 0.56 0.31 201.06 0.05 POLYGON BACKWARDS -0.28 0.17 DRUMMING -0.38 0.07 SIDE-STEPPING -0.02 0.92 Legend: statistically significant correlations (p<0.05) are shown in bold 22 Dolenc, M., @van, M. (2001). Competitive success of junior female alpine skiers in light of certain chosen… KinSI 7(1–2), 19–22 tude of other (unexplained) factors, was not connec- ted to the ability for realising rhythmic motor structu- res. It is possible, due to the influence of the onset of puberty, that certain young subjects experienced a degradation of some of their already established mo- tor programmes. Morphological changes (rapid body growth) could have caused degradation of their con- trol over co-ordinated movements of the arms and legs required by the drumming test. The multiple correlation coefficient obtained with multiple regression analysis is statistically significant. The co-ordination space variables explained 31% of the criterion’s variance. The motor structure of the va- riable sidestepping is the most similar to the structu- re of movement in alpine skiing of all the used inde- pendent variables (velocity of movement, explosive actions, similarity of motor structures…); therefore it would be logical – because of these parallels - to ex- pect the highest projection of this variable on the cri- terion. The results of the study support this hypothe- sis. It is important to realise that the importance of the co-ordination space for success in junior female alpi- ne skiing was, in our case, only tested with three fac- tors. It is possible that the objectivity of the results would increase if all the factors of co-ordination were used and also their interactions taken into account. The values that define the criterion variable are col- lected during the entire competitive season while the predictor values show the level of motor status at a gi- ven moment. It might be that because of this time dif- ference between the measurements of motor variab- les and competitive success, the measured results do not show the real status of the competitors (in the competitive season). The obtained results can there- fore also be the result of factors not controlled for in the study, so a certain level of restraint in the interpre- tation of the results is warranted. It is also possible that the athletes in the obtained sam- ple achieved better results at competitions due to fac- tors that were encompassed by this study. Even if the standardised regression coefficients were not statisti- cally significant, this does not by any means mean that they can be neglected in explaining competitive suc- cess. 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