Abstract

SILVA, António et al. Chronometric analyses of swimming events in infantile swimmers: An objective model for goal setting. Rev. Port. Cien. Desp. [online]. 2007, vol.7, n.2, pp.189-201. ISSN 1645-0523.

The aims of the present work were: (i) to determine for each gender predictive equations for the different chronometric variables in 400 and 200 m freestyle and in 100 m butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle; (ii) to develop models for each of the chronometric variables that were studied in the two genders; (iii) to construct an objective model for goal setting. For this purpose, 446 Portuguese swimmers (230 female and 216 male) belonging to the infant age group category were studied. Through deductive statistic procedures it was possible to determine linear regression equations to predict the Starting Time (ST), the Turning Time (TT), the Finishing Time (FT) and the Swimming Time (SwT) in each studied event. The major findings of this study were: (i) all the chronometric variables were significantly related to Total Race Time and the respective performance predictive equations were established; (ii) with the increase of the race distance a decrease in the relative importance of ST and an increase in the relative importance of TT were observed; (iii) to the majority of the studied events, male swimmers were faster to start, to turn and to finish than female swimmers.

Keywords : swimming; chronometric analyses; goal setting.

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