2014, Volume 6, Issue 2
Assessment of the impact of one-year training in acrobatic rock’n’roll on overall motor coordination in eight-year-old children
Robert Walaszek1, Tomasz Nosal2
1Department of Leisure and Biological Recreation, University School of Physical Education in Krakow
2Acrobatic Rock\'n\'Roll Club Podwawelski Krakow
Author for correspondence: Robert Walaszek; Department of Leisure and Biological Recreation, University School of Physical Education in Krakow; email: robertwalaszek63[at]gmail.com
Full text
Abstract
Background: The purpose of the research was to assess the level of overall motor coordination in children practising sport dance – namely, acrobatic rock’n’roll – against the background of their peers who did not dance. The evaluation also included the lateral differentiation of overall motor coordination and skills of kinaesthetic movement differentiation.
Material/Methods: The research was conducted in a group of 64 persons aged eight. The research group consisted of thirty children who had practised acrobatic rock’n’roll for a year. The clinical control group was formed by nineteen schoolgirls and fifteen schoolboys who did not practise any sport dance. The research participants’ motor coordination level was evaluated by means of a test with the use of Starosta’s coordination-meter. The same test was used to assess the lateral differentiation of the turning jump and to evaluate the participants’ skill of kinaesthetic movement differentiation.
Results: After one year of practice the research group achieved better results as far as their skills of kinaesthetic differentiation and of movement symmetrisation were concerned.
Conclusions: After one-year training, both the boys and girls who practiced sport dance showed a higher level of overall motor coordination than non-training children of the same age.
Key words: sport dance, acrobatic rock’n’roll, motor coordination, children