Study on the Effect of Functional Training on Vaulting Table Performance of Female Gymnasts

Gymnastics is a multi – disciplined sports in which artistic gymnastics has been performed since the inception of the sport in ancient Greek culture. Within artistic gymnastics men have 6 events while women have 4 events, among which vaulting table is an event that is common to both genders. Vaulting table is an event which last for few seconds of performance and is seen as a speed, power, reaction based and high precision event. In this study the researcher has attempted to study the effect of functional training programme on vaulting table performance of female gymnasts. For this study 15 sub – elite gymnasts were chosen from Mumbai Suburban District, from the age group 11 to 16 years. The study was conducted for a duration of 16 weeks (4 months), for 5 days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). It was conducted in three phases namely pre – test phase, training programme phase and post – test phase. The data was collected during the pre – test phase followed by the training phase during which functional training programme was administered and finally a post – test phase. The collected data was tabulated, arranged systematically and further analysed using statistical procedures. The results obtained were such that the mean score for performance on vaulting table the pre-test (9.94) and that of the post test (10.74) the SD for the pre – test (0.81) and that of the post-test (0.44) the Standard Error of Mean SEM for the pre – test (0.21) and that of post – test (0.11), where N = 15 and df = 14. The calculated t value for the pre and post – test using paired t test was 4.67, which is significant at 0.05 level. Hence, the hypothesis H1 – There will be a significant improvement in vaulting table performance of female gymnasts due to functional training is accepted.