RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN QUICKNESS, AGILITY, AND ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE IN BOY SWIMMERS

The aim of the research. The purposes of this study were to examine relationships between quickness, agility, and acceleration performance in boy swimmers. Methods of research. Sixteen boys swimmer volunteered to participate in this research. The mean (SD) age was 11,19±1,76 years, height was 1,45±0,12 m, and weight was 39,19±13,35 kg for the 16 boys swimmers. we applied a testing procedure that included measurements of the quickness, acceleration, and agility. Each test was applied three times, with a 3-minute interval, and the best result was recorded. At the beginning of each session, All athletes completed a 10 minute dynamic warm-up consisting of jogging, dynamic stretching and submaximal sprints. Timing of all repetitions was measured by an electronic timing system. Photocells were placed at the start, 5 m (quickness), 10 m (acceleration), and 15 m (acceleration) in order to collect sprint times over the 3 distances. For agility performance, the subjects started on a centerline. The subjects sprinted 4.57 m to the left, then 9.14 m to the right, and finally 4.57 m back to finish as they crossed the centerline. Main results. A significant positive correlation existed between quickness with accelaration for 5 m, acceleration for 10 m, and agility (r = 0,843, 0,653, 0,776, respectively) (P 0,05). In conclusion. Swimmers need to agility, quickness, and acceleration for quickly turns, fathoms, and reactive starts. So, trainers should design the annual training program which has quickness, acceleration, and agility based on swimmer’s growth and maturation process.