Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examined the effect of a mental training program on the performance of eight-tonine- year-old male gymnasts in the acquisition and execution of a newly learned gymnastic element, namely the headspring. Twenty-five gymnasts, all with one-year experience in gymnastics, were tested on the four prerequisite elements for the headspring. The selected group was randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group respectively. The experimental group received six weekly mental training interventions, consisting of an adapted progressive relaxation approach with deepening techniques and imagery. In addition to the mental training interventions the experimental group took part in the weekly physical training program. The control group only received the physical training. The gymnasts were evaluated on a daily basis to monitor their progress. The headspring was evaluated by means of a post-intervention testing. A pre- and post-intervention interview was also conducted with all the gymnasts to determine qualitatively whether the mental training influenced the gymnasts' physical symptoms, cognitions and emotions during a competition situation. Interjudge reliability coefficients were also calculated for the pre- and posttests in order to establish to what degree the judges evaluated the elements uniformly. The results of the daily-progression testing indicated that the control group performed significantly better than the experimental group on one occasion, namely the session before the first mental training session was introduced to the experimental group. The experimental group, however, performed significantly better than the control group on two occasions just before and just after the third mental training session. The results of the post-intervention testing indicated that the experimental group did not perform significantly better than the control group during the execution of the headspring. The experimental group did, however, show a clear non-significant tendency to perform better than the control group during the daily-progression testing and the post-intervention testing. The pre- and post-intervention interviews indicated that the control group, in comparison with the experimental group, reported the same number of positive physical symptoms, cognitions and emotions before and after the experiment. The experimental group reported fewer positive physical symptoms during a competition situation, but more thoughts about the correct execution of the headspring and more positive emotions during competitions were reported after the experiment. The inter-judge reliability coefficients indicated that the judges evaluated the elements in the pretest more uniformly. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met hierdie studie is gepoog om vas te stel watter effek 'n sielkundige inoefeningsprogram met die aanleer en uitvoering van 'n nuutaangeleerde gimnastiekelement, naamlik die kopwip, op agt- tot nege-jarige seunsgimnaste gehad het. Vyf en twingtig gimnaste, wat almal een jaar gimnastiekondervinding het, is getoets met betrekking tot die vier voorvereistes van die kopwip. Die geselekteerde groep is ewekansig ingedeel in 'n eksperimentele en kontrolegroep onderskeidelik. Die eksperimentele groep het ses weeklike sielkundige inoefeningsessies gehad, bestaande uit 'n gewysigde progressiewe ontspanningsbenadering met verdiepingstegnieke en visualisering. Benewens die sielkundige inoefeningsprogram is hulle weekliks aan die fisiese afrigtingsprogram blootgestel. Die kontrolegroep het slegs die fisiese afrigtingsprogram ontvang. Al die subjekte is op 'n daaglikse basis geëvalueer om hul stapsgewyse vordering te monitor. Die kopwip as geheel is deur middel van 'n natoets geëvalueer. 'n Voor- en na-onderhoud is met elke gimnas gevoer om kwalitatief vas te stelof die eksperiment 'n verandering m die gimnaste se rapportering van fisiese simptome, kognisies en emosies tydens 'n kompetisie teweeggebring het. lnterbeoordelaarbetroubaarheidskoeffisiënte is bereken vir beide die voor- en natoets om te bepaal tot watter mate die drie beoordelaars se punte ooreengestem het. Die resultate van die daaglikse evaluering toon dat die kontrolegroep tydens een toetsgeleentheid, naamlik die sessie voor die eerste sielkundige inoefeningsessie op die eksperimentele groep toegepas is, beduidend beter as die eksperimentele groep gevaar het. Die eksprimentele groep het egter by twee toetsgeleenthede, naamlik dié net voor en net na die derde sielkundige inoefeningsessie beduidend beter as die kontrolegroep gevaar. Die resultate van die natoets toon dat die eksperimentele groep nie beduidend beter as die kontrolegroep tydens die uitvoering van die kopwip as geheel gevaar het nie. Die eksperimentele groep het 'n nie-beduidende tendens getoon om beter te presteer tydens die daaglikse evaluering en tydens die natoets. Die voor- en na-onderhoude het getoon dat die kontrolegroep, in vergelyking met die eksperimentele groep, dieselfde hoeveelheid positiewe fisiese simptome, kognisies en emosies na die eksperiment gerapporteer het. Die eksperimentele groep het minder positiewe, fisiese simptome na afloop van die eksperiment gerapporteer, maar verbreding van hul kognisies rakende die korrekte uitvoering van die kopwip en die toon van meer positiewe emosies tydens kompetisies is na afloop van die ondersoek gerapporteer. Die interbeoordelaar-betroubaarheidskoeffisiënte het getoon dat die beoordelaars meer eenvormig tydens die voortoets beoordeel het.

The purpose of this study was to discover whether the gymnasts' body shape affects the judging of gymnastics. The goal was to discover whether the judges' perceptions of the gymnasts' body shape related to the gymnasts' performance scores. A second goal was to discover whether performance scores differed when given by judges with two levels of experience (experienced and novice). Videotapes of compulsory routines performed by 16 gymnasts on bars, beam and floor were constructed to simulate a competition. Eighteen judges, nine novice and nine experienced, evaluated the routines. They were also required to rate their perception of the aesthetic appeal of the 16 gymnasts' body shape. Each gymnasts' body mass index (BMI) was calculated from their height and weight measurements to quantify body shape. The scores were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The results showed a significant main effect of BMI on judges' perception of gymnasts' body shape scores, $F(3,48)=9.50, p<.001.$ Gymnasts with a medium-low BMI received significantly higher perception scores than gymnasts with a medium-high BMI and gymnasts with a high BMI. The results also showed a significant main effect $(p<.001)$ of BMI on performance scores. Gymnasts with a high BMI received higher performance scores than those gymnasts with a low BMI, medium-low BMI and medium-high BMI. The effect of judge experience was very close to significant $(p<.059)$ in relation to performance scores. Experienced judges gave lower performance scores than novice judges. Although all judges preferred smaller body shape, this preference did not affect the performance scores award by the judges.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to explore whether a previous gymnastic or tumbling injury influences gymnasts' and tumblers' self-efficacy, motivation, competition anxiety, and fears of pain and injury. Participants (N = 105) completed survey packets during practice which contained demographic questions and questionnaires that measure self-efficacy for physical abilities and exercise, self-motivation, risk of injury, pain catastrophizing, and sport anxiety. Results of a one-way ANOVA indicated that gymnasts and tumblers who experienced a previous injury were significantly different than those who had not experienced an injury on their self-efficacy for physical abilities (p = .007), self-motivation (p = .007), and perceived risk of reinjury (p = .018). Specifically, these findings indicate that gymnasts and tumblers with previous injuries experience higher levels of self-efficacy for physical abilities, self-motivation, and perceived risk of reinjury. Implications for coaches, gymnasts, and tumblers include: creating an open and comfortable environment to discuss pain and injury, developing strategies to break the negative cycle of fear of injury, and fostering a positive rehabilitation process. In the future, researchers should examine the influence that gender and type of competition has on self-efficacy, self-motivation, perceived risk of reinjury, pain perceptions, and competition anxiety of those who have experienced sport-related injuries, as compared to those who have not experienced these types of injuries. Researchers should also examine how the type of injury, whether it is a first time injury versus a reinjury, influences perceptions of pain and fears directly following the injury.