Observational study of the ready and set phases of block starts in track events

We designed an ad hoc observation instrument for analyzing and interpreting the ready and set phases of block starts in track events. To test the reliability, validity, and functionality of the instrument, we analyzed datasets corresponding to six block starts by five junior female athletes. The reliability of the instrument was shown by calculating Cohen’s kappa coefficient for quantitative intraobserver agreement using the order parameter (κ = .970). Validity was demonstrated using generalizability theory (e 2 = .00), which also showed that the number of athletes (e 2 = .997) and starts included in the sample (e 2 = 1) were sufficient to achieve the desired level of measurement precision. The functionality of the instrument was tested by searching for hidden temporal patterns in the datasets using the software program THEME. We detected specific technical differences (adjustment and error) both within and between athletes with respect to the ideal starting techniqueSe ha diseñado una herramienta observacional ad hoc que permite analizar e interpretar las fases “a sus puestos” y “listos” en la salida de tacos. Los registros correspondientes a cinco atletas juveniles féminas, que realizaron seis salidas cada una, han permitido analizar la fiabilidad, validez y operatividad de la herramienta observacional. La fiabilidad se ha garantizado a partir de concordancia cuantitativa intraobservador, mediante el coeficiente Kappa de Cohen, bajo el parámetro orden (κ = .970). La validez se ha determinado en el seno de la Teoría de la Generalizabilidad (e 2 = .00); que a su vez ha permitido constatar que con el número de atletas (e 2 = .997) y salidas (e 2 = 1) utilizado se ha conseguido una elevada fiabilidad de precisión de generalización. La operatividad se ha mostrado mediante la detección de T-patterns con el programa THEME, habiéndose podido determinar aspectos técnicos concretos (ajuste y error) respecto al patrón técnico ideal, tanto intra-atleta como inter-atleta