STRENGTH TRAINING FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN ATHLETIC GYMNASTICS

Abstract

The training session is the main form of instruction for all students. The lesson for the elective course in physical education and sports—athletic gymnastics—is structured based on the general principles of physical education, the physiological mechanisms of body function, and the development of physical qualities. The strength training session consists of a series of strength-focused exercises performed in a specific sequence to address current and long-term objectives of the training process. To compensate for possible adverse effects of strength training, it is advisable to immediately follow the exercises with relaxation and stretching exercises for the muscle groups being trained, as well as precision exercises. The purpose of this specialized study is to examine and test the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for developing strength training for university students. A comparative analysis of benchmark performance in three exercises: squat, bench press, and deadlift, was conducted by 84 students-58 boys and 26 girls-in Athletic Gymnastics, who had participated in the fall semester of the 2024 academic year and continued training in the spring semester of the 2025 academic year. Several indicators were compared: individual improvements in squat, bench press, and deadlift, the total of the three lifts, the participants' bodyweight, and the Wilks coefficient, which is used to compare the results of athletes of different weights and reflects the ratio between an athlete's bodyweight and the weight they lifted. The comparative analysis reflected both individual indicators for each student and for groups: boys and girls, first- and second-year students.