Biomechanical similarities of progressions for the longswing on high bar

Abstract

This paper combined the principles of skill development with biomechanical analyses in an ecologically valid setting, to identify the most effective progressions for learning a gymnastic skill. A new score of biomechanical specificity was developed which integrated joint angular kinematics with movement variability, and was used to rank skill progressions in order of effectiveness. The importance of the practical implications of this treatment was acknowledged through the invitation to co-present the coaching symposium with Professor Daniel Gould at the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences annual conference, Loughborough, 2005.