The effect of rhythm training on the motor coordination abilities of 8–12-year-old freestyle swimmers

This study aims to evaluate the effect of rhythm training in the early coordination development and to find out its role in the transfer of specific performance in young swimmers. Eighty young swimmers aged eight to twelve were divided randomly into a control group (CON, n = 40, M/F=17/23) or an experimental group (EXP, n = 40, M/F=19/21). A total of 72 swimmers completed all the training programs and tests included in this study (CON, n = 35, M/F=15/20; EXP, n = 37, M/F=16/21). The training programme lasted 12 weeks. During the study period, all groups participated in the same swimming training program with the control group participating six times a week, and the experimental group participating four times a week with an additional two rhythm trainings each week. The height, weight, walking backwards ability, jumping sideways ability, and 25 m freestyle were measured for each participant and an index of coordination was analyzed from recordings of the participant’s 25 m freestyle. The results indicated that participation in rhythm training resulted in improved general motor and swimming-specific coordination among the swimmers, but the results varied by number of years of sport-specific training experience. The swimmers with more training experience improved more in swimming-specific coordination but less in general motor coordination. This study strengthens the evidence for the effectiveness of early rhythm training in swimmers, indicating that it is feasible to design programs to address general and sport-specific coordination in young athletes