ABSTRACT

The Science of Gymnastics provides the most comprehensive and accessible introduction available to the fundamental physiological, biomechanical and psychological principles underpinning performance in artistic gymnastics.

The second edition introduces three new sections: applied coaching, motor learning and injury prevention and safety, and features contributions from leading international sport scientists and gymnastics coaches and instructors. With case studies and review questions included in each chapter, the book examines every key aspect of gymnastic training and performance, including:

  • physiological assessment
  • diet and nutrition
  • energetics         
  • kinetics and kinematics
  • spatial orientation and motor control
  • career transitions
  • mental skills training and perception
  • injury assessment and prevention, with clinical cases
  • advanced case studies in rotations, vault approach and elastic technologies in gymnastics.

A fully dedicated website provides a complete set of lecture material, including ready-to-use animated slides related to each chapter, and the answers to all review questions in the book.

The book represents an important link between scientific theory and performance. As such, The Science of Gymnastics is essential reading for any student, researcher or coach with an interest in gymnastics, and useful applied reading for any student of sport science or sports coaching.

part 1I|4 pages

Physiology for gymnastics

chapter 1|18 pages

Energetics of gymnastics

chapter |2 pages

Part I Review Questions

part 40II|4 pages

Applied coaching sciences in gymnastics

chapter 7|8 pages

Jumping skills

Importance, assessment and training

chapter |2 pages

Part II Review Questions

part 73III|5 pages

Biomechanics for gymnastics

chapter 8|20 pages

Linear kinematics

chapter 989|9 pages

Angular kinematics

chapter 10|9 pages

Linear kinetics

chapter 11|11 pages

Angular kinetics

chapter |3 pages

Part III Review Questions

part 135IV|4 pages

Psychology for gymnastics

chapter 13|12 pages

Task demands and career transitions in gymnastics

From novices to experts and the stages of learning across the career

chapter 14|5 pages

Coaching and parenting

chapter 16|25 pages

Omsat-3 mental skills assessment

chapter 17|5 pages

Closing the circle of mental skills training

Providing mental skills feedback to gymnasts

chapter 18|10 pages

Perception of complex movements

chapter |2 pages

Part IV Review Questions

part 204V|3 pages

Interaction between physiological, biomechanical and psychological aspects of gymnastic performance

chapter 19|3 pages

The physiologist’s point of view

chapter |1 pages

Part V Conclusion

chapter |1 pages

Part V Review Questions

part 220VI|5 pages

Motor learning in gymnastics

chapter 22|1 pages

Motor learning versus pedagogy

chapter 24|2 pages

Stages of motor learning

chapter 25|3 pages

Feedback

chapter 27|2 pages

Transfer strategies

chapter 28|8 pages

Practice

chapter 30|2 pages

Advanced applied example of motor control 1

The running approach when vaulting

chapter 31|11 pages

Advanced applied example of motor control 2

Rotations and twisting in gymnastics, is there a universal rotational scheme?

chapter 32|9 pages

Advanced applied example of motor control 3

The impact of Elastic Technologies on Artistic Gymnastics – a special case study from Brazil

chapter |3 pages

Part VI Review Questions

part 278VII|5 pages

Injuries in gymnastics

chapter 33|3 pages

Injury is a serious issue

chapter 34|2 pages

What is an injury?

chapter 36|10 pages

Injury location

chapter 37|10 pages

Injury countermeasures

chapter 38|12 pages

Clinical injury cases in artistic gymnastics

The big and the small ones