Relations of non-specific motor abilities and performances of floor exercise in artistic gymnastics

In a relatively short athletic career of women gymnasts, multilateral development of motor abilities, with the aim of quality performance of complex skills, is crucial to win a competition. Out of the four apparatuses of women’s gymnastics All Around Event, the floor exercise is, in energy terms, the most demanding. Comparatively, this study raises the question which motor abilities are required for more efficient performance of the floor exercise. The research was carried out on 26 female competitors of the Croatian “C” national program from the South region, aged 6-8 years, cadet competition category. Some of their non specific motor abilities have been analyzed by standing long jump, 20 m dash, straight arm hang, sit-ups, arm plate tapping, obstacle course backwards and sit and reach test. By regression analysis, significant impact of the standing long jump (B=-0.63; p=0.01), obstacle course backwards (B=-0.57; p=0.02) and sit and reach test (B=0.42; p=0.02) on the floor exercise performance was determined. Significant differences were determined by ANOVA in the sit-ups (F=0.0.38; p=0.02), arm plate tapping (F=0.86; p=0.02) and obstacle course backwards test (F=-0.73; p=0.01) between more efficient and less efficient competitors. In accordance with the demands put upon the competitors by the analyzed exercise, but also by the Code of Point, the obtained results are considered logical.