2nd Edition

The Science of Gymnastics Advanced Concepts

Edited By Monèm Jemni Copyright 2018
    396 Pages 126 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    396 Pages 126 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    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.

     List of contributors

    Foreword

    PART I: Physiology for Gymnastics

    Learning Outcomes, Introduction and Objectives

    1. Energetics of Gymnastics (Monèm Jemni)

    2. Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems of the Gymnasts (Monèm Jemni)

    3. Diet, Nutrition, Supplementation and Related Health Issues in Gymnastics (Monèm Jemni)

    Review questions

    PART II: Applied Coaching Sciences in Gymnastics

    Learning Outcomes, Introduction and Objectives

    4. Fitness Model of High Level Gymnasts (William A Sands)

    5. Training Principles in Gymnastics (Monèm Jemni and William A Sands)

    6. Specific Physical and Physiological Assessments of Gymnasts (Monèm Jemni)

    7. Jumping Skills: Importance, Assessment and Training (Michel Marina)

    Review questions

    PART III: Biomechanics for Gymnastics

    Introduction and Objectives

    8. Linear Kinematics (William A Sands)

    9. Angular Kinematics (William A Sands)

    10. Linear Kinetics (William A Sands)

    11. Angular Kinetics (William A Sands)

    12. Use of Body Inverse Dynamics to Evaluate Reaction Force During Vault and Floor Somersaults in Artistic Gymnastics (Bessem Mkaouer)

    Review Questions

    PART IV: Psychology for Gymnastics

    Learning Outcomes, Introduction and Objectives

    13. Task Demands and Career Transitions in Gymnastics: From Novices to Experts and the Stages of Learning Across the Career (John H. Salmela)

    14. Coaching and Parenting (John H. Salmela)

    15. Mental Skill Development and Variation in Gymnasts (John H. Salmela)

    16. Omsat-3 Mental Skills Assessment (John H. Salmela)

    17. Closing the Circle of Mental Skills Training: Providing Mental Skills Feedback to Gymnasts (John H. Salmela)

    18. Perception of Complex Movements (Alexandra Pizzera)

    Review questions

    Part V: Interaction between Physiological, Biomechanical and Psychological Aspects of Gymnastic Performance

    Learning Outcomes, Introduction and Objectives

    19. The Physiologists Point of View (Monèm Jemni)

    20. The Biomechanists Point of View (Patrice Holvoet)

    21. The Psychologist Point of View (John H Salmela)

    Review questions

    Part VI: Motor Learning in Gymnastics

    Objectives, Learning Outcomes and Introduction

    22. Motor Learning Versus Pedagogy (William A Sands)

    23. Fundamental Concepts and Definitions in Motor Learning (William A Sands)

    24. Stages of Motor Learning (William A Sands)

    25. Feedback (William A Sands)

    26. Transfer of Learning Tasks to a Final Skill (William A Sands)

    27. Transfer Strategies (William A Sands)

    28. Practice (William A Sands)

    29. Special Considerations in Gymnastics Learning (William A Sands)

    30. Advanced Applied Example of Motor Control 1: The Running Approach When Vaulting (Elizabeth J. Bradshaw)

    31. Advanced Applied Example of Motor Control 2: Rotations and Twisting in Gymnastics, Is There a Universal Rotational Scheme? (Flavio Bessi)

    32. Advanced Applied Example of Motor Control 3: The Impact of Elastic Technologies on Artistic Gymnastics – A Special Case Study From Brazil (Marco Antonio Coelho Bortoleto)

    Review Questions

    Part VII: Injuries in Gymnastics

    Introduction

    Objectives

    Learning Outcomes

    33. Injury is a Serious Issue (William A Sands)

    34. What is an Injury? (William A Sands)

    35. Characteristics of Gymnastics Injuries (William A Sands) 

    36. Injury Location (William A Sands)

    37. Injury Countermeasures (William A Sands)

    38. Clinical Injury Cases in Artistic Gymnastics, the Big and the Small Ones (Brooke Lemmen)

    39. Monitoring Gymnasts for Injury Prevention (Elizabeth J. Bradshaw)

    Review Questions

    References

    Index

     

    Biography

    Monèm Jemni PhD is currently a tutor and a consultant at the University of Cambridge UK. He developed the first ever curriculum in sport science in the history of the University, launched at the Institute of Continuing Education. He is also a visiting Professor at Ningbo University, China after occupying several senior positions in France, in Qatar and in the UK. With a history as a gymnast and international coach who contributed to Olympic medal winners, he is now one of the pillars at the FIG Coaching Academy. His cross expertise in exercise science for health and performance has led him to win outstanding awards from several countries and enjoys world-leading reputation thanks to his cutting-edge research and investigations.