Antropomotoryka nr 55.indb - Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego w ...

Development of spatial and temporal orientation abilities in winter sport competitors
Table 2. Results from Mann-Whitney U-test for determination of significance of differences between the athletic and control group in
individual studies and significance of sexual differences in both groups
Group
ZSMS/ZSE men
ZSMS/ZSE woman
ZSMS/ZSMS dymorphis
ZSE/ZSE dymorphis
Significance level p in next research
Trial
1 2(1) 3 4(2) 5 6(3) 7(4)
PA 0,6352 0,4740 0,0274 0,1570
CA 0,5518 0,2941 0,1031 0,0470
PA 0,8574 0,0775 0,0585 0,0085
CA 0,9841 0,5092 0,1196 0,1520
PA 0,9853 0,8683 0,5424 0,6447 0,6447 0,5926 0,5424
CA 0,9559 0,8974 0,5926 0,4487 0,7540 0,6447 0,6714
PA 0,9040 0,0084 0,2834 0,1879
CA 0,6817 0,1879 0,3375 0,7784
statistical essential values were distinguished in bold type
Legend: PA – Piórkowski apparatus ; CA– cross apparatus
DISCUSSION
It is a common occurrence under conditions of competition
that proper behaviour of an athlete depends on their
speed of assessment of situation and control of spatial
conditions of the activity. The same applies to winter
sports. Therefore, spatial orientation should be consciously
stimulated from the beginning of competitive
careers [17, 18]. Formation of individual CMAs through
training, including spatial orientation is of the utmost importance,
however, frequently neglected by coaches.
The goal of the present study is an attempt to determine
changes in the level of spatial and temporal abilities
in young people at junior age, practicing winter sports,
subject to a systematized many-year training process.
The attempts were made to determine the scope of these
changes with differentiation of gender of the subjects and
through separation of developmental factor (comparison
of the obtained results with the results of control group)
and assessment whether they resulted from natural development
or intensive physical activity.
Undoubtedly, the level of the considered ability was
significantly changed throughout the analysed range of
age of the subjects. In the athletic group, the rise was
impressing (from 35% to 41%). In control group, similar
results were obtained for tests with Piórkowski apparatus
(from 30% to 32%), slightly different in the case of cross apparatus
(17%). No statistically significant differences were
found between the experimental group and control group.
Therefore, one should accept that considerable improvement
in the athletic group did not result from increased
physical activity but it could be caused by ontogenesis.
Comparisons of the obtained results with the studies
by other authors confirms the observations Szopa et al.
[15]. Those authors, using the same research method,
found a relative stabilization of visual motor coordination
between 17 and 19 year of age. Similar results, confirming
continuation of development of spatial orientation
after turning 16 (where, according to Hirtz [10], its full
development can be observed) was also obtained by
Bodasiński [19]. This researcher, who carried out the investigations
on 17-year-old handball players in year-long
training cycle, confirmed 18-percent improvement in the
results of his own motor test. The author’s investigations
confirmed a relative stabilization of the results compared
to the previous period between 17 and 18. Increase in
the results in this period amounted to barely 3.5% in male
athletes and 5.5 to 7.5% in female athletes.
In consideration of the relationship between the trained
and the untrained, it is difficult to find information about the
research of spatial and temporal orientation in the group of
age analysed in this thesis. But some thesis can be found,
in which the authors researched youth in the age in 10–13.
They show the advantage of sports groups [20, 21].
Interesting studies were carried out by Zwierko [22],
who investigated, under laboratory conditions (Vienna
Test System), peripheral perception in 20-year-old
athletes compared to their peers. The author did not
demonstrate differences between the both groups in
her research. Therefore, there is lack of unequivocal
determination of the effect of training on improvement
in the level of orientation. The results of author’s own
studies seem to support the reports by Szopa et al. [15]
of considerable genetic control of this ability. However,
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