SHOOTING RANGE IMPROVEMENT BY MONITORING THE DISCRIMINATING FACTORS OF THE JUNIOR BIATHLETES

The purpose of the research is to identify biomechanical predictors that distinguish between high and low score athletes in biathlon shooting and to determine the relationships among these variables in field testing. Ten biathletes (3 female, 7 male) from CSS Dinamo Râșnov each fired 3 clips of 5 shots in prone and standing shooting positions without physical load, followed by 2 respective series in both disciplines during a simulated 12.5-km pursuit race on roller skis. Referring to the current results, athletes are recommended to focus on vertical rifle sway in prone position and on body sway across the shooting line during standing shooting when fatigued.

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Factors Discriminating High From Low Score Performance in Biathlon Shooting

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2016-0195 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 377-384 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Gerold Sattlecker ◽

Michael Buchecker ◽

Christoph Gressenbauer ◽

Erich Müller ◽

Stefan J. Lindinger

Keyword(s):

Prone Position ◽

Field Testing ◽

Body Sway ◽

World Cup ◽

Linear Discriminant ◽

Performance Predictors ◽

The World ◽

Discriminant Analyses ◽

Rest Condition ◽

Biomechanical Factors

Purpose:To identify biomechanical predictors that distinguish between high- and low-score athletes in biathlon shooting and to determine the relationships among these variables in field testing.Methods:Twenty-two biathletes (8 female, 14 male) from the World Cup, the European Cup, and a federal youth squad each fired 3 clips of 5 shots in prone and standing shooting positions without physical load, followed by 2 respective series in both disciplines during a simulated 12.5-km pursuit race on roller skis. Biomechanical variables describing triggering, rifle force in the back shoulder, and body and rifle sway were calculated over the last 0.5 second before firing. For computed linear discriminant analyses, subjects were divided into high- and low-level performers based on mean scores for each condition separately. In addition, correlations among all biomechanical factors were calculated.Results:Regarding prone shooting, shoulder force in the rest condition and vertical rifle sway in the race simulation were shown to be main discriminators. Several body- and rifle-sway variables were found to be predictors in standing rest shooting. Body sway across the shooting line discriminated the groups in the standing race situation tendentially. Thus, the main performance predictors changed due to fatigue. Correlations between triggering and rifle sway, shoulder force and rifle sway, and body sway and rifle sway were discovered.Conclusions:Referring to the current results, athletes are recommended to focus on vertical rifle sway in prone position and on body sway across the shooting line during standing shooting when fatigued.

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Breathing as one of the components of biathlon shooting in youth biathletes

Studia sportiva ◽

10.5817/sts2021-2-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 88-97

Author(s):

Michal Žák ◽

Jan Ondráček

Keyword(s):

Prone Position ◽

Average Length ◽

Standing Position ◽

Physical Load ◽

Training Period ◽

Breath Holding ◽

Men And Women ◽

Potential Dependence ◽

Post Test ◽

Age Category

PURPOSE: This study is aimed at identifying the length of breath holding in youth biathletes before shooting in both the prone and the standing position, and determining potential dependence between breath holding and the shooting performance at rest and after physical load during the training period.METHODS: Twenty-one national youth biathletes, women (n = 10; 16.7 ± 0.7 years) and men (n = 11; 16.5 ± 0.6 years), participated in the study. All participants completed two series of measuring of breath holding after 3 months period during shooting at rest and after roller skiing in a race load, in the prone as well as the standing position. They shot using their own biathlon rifles with a fixed accelerometer and respiration belts on the thorax.RESULTS: The average length of breath holding when successfully hitting the target in the prone position was 0.65 seconds in average both at rest and in the racing load, with some significant differences both men and women. When shooting in the standing position, the average values were approximately same as in the prone position 0.65 seconds both at rest and in racing load, again with some observable differences both men and women. There were several significant differences between the pre-test and post-test in the length of breath holding in both groups (p < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS:The study evaluate the length of breath holding and determine dependence of breath holding on the shooting performance at rest and after physical load during the training period in youth biathletes. The comparison of the acquired information with the shooting methodology taught by the coaches brought beneficial results. The study showed that is appropriate to hold breath for an average of 0.55 - 0.7 seconds in both shooting positions for both men and women in this age category.

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