The main objective of this paper was to determine the relationship between biomechanical parameters of vault flights with respect to new models of initial vault difficulty values in men’s artistic gymnastic. The study sample included vaults (n=64) and models (n=5) from the 2009 Code of Points (CoP) of the Federation International of Gymnastics (FIG). The dependent variable included all difficulty values ranging from 2-7.2 points, while the sample of independent variables included twelve biomechanical parameters. After implementing the regression analysis, it could be established that the best model derived only the second flight phase with 95% of explained variance.

On a sample of 176 male gymnasts, we analyzed the score of judges from the World Championship in men’s artistic gymnastics, held 2009 in London. The subject of the analysis were the final scores competitors got for the exercises shown in the qualifying competition (C I). Analysis problem was determination of the differences on individual apparatus between judges E1 to E6 and apparatus. The main objective of this study was to determine the reliability of evaluation of judges and whether the current Code of Points (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique, 2009b) should be revised in terms of equalizing score on apparatus. Equality was tested for the achieved D, E and all-around scores on the disciplines of floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. Vault has the highest D and E scores, while pommel horse the lowest D and E scores. T-tests showed that those two disciplines significantly differ from other disciplines. Reliability were calculated (intraclass correlation coefficient ICR, Cronbach’s alpha, differences in mean E1 to E6 between judges were tested using factor analyses with method first major component. All data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 17.0. Results show very high reliability (e.g. Cronbach’s alpha range from .94 up to .98).

Na uzorku od 176 gimnastičara, analizirane su ocjene studija sa Svjetskog prvenstva u muškoj sportskoj gimnastici, koje se je održalo u Londonu 2009. godine. Predmet analize je kvalitet ocjenjivanja sudija u kvalifikacijama (C I) na osnovu važećeg pravilnika za ocjenjivanje Međunarodne gimnastičke federacije (C I). Problem je bio određivanje razlika ocjena sudija na spravama i između sudija na pojedinim spravama od E1 do E6 sudije. Osnovni cilj rada bio je da se ustanovi pouzdanost ocjenjivanja sudija i da li važeći Pravilnik za ocjenjivanje (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique, 2009b) treba revidirati po pitanju ujednačavanja ocjena na spravama. Razlike su testirane za ocjene komisija D, E i rezultat na svim spravama u višeboju: parteru, konju s hvataljkama, krugovima, preskoku, razboju i vratilu. Preskok ima najveću srednju D i E ocjenu, a konj s hvataljkama najniže srednje D i E ocjene. T-testovi su pokazali da se ove dvije sprave značajno razlikuju od drugih sprava. Pouzdanost je izračunata sa ICR, Kronbah alfa, razlike između ocjena komisije od E1 do E6 su testirane uz pomoć faktorske analize metodom prave glavne komponente. Svi podaci su analizirani uz pomoću statističkoga paketa SPSS 17.0. Rezultati pokazuju vrlo visoku pouzdanost (Kronbah alfa je u rasponu je od 0,94 do 0,98)

The aim of the paper is to define which biomechanical parameters explain and define the difficulty vault value. The study sample included 64 vaults from the Code of Points (COP) of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG, 2009). The dependent variable included all difficulty values ranging from 2-7.2 points, while the sample of independent variables included 12 biomechanical variables (data was collected from the literature and our measurements). With regression analysis we explained 92.4% of the difficulty vault value. Only three biomechanical variables were predictors: degrees of turns around transversal axis, degrees of turns around longitudinal axis and body's moment of inertia around transversal axis in the second flight phase. 

According to the Code of Points (FIG, 2009) the balance beam difficulty value is determined by the sum of maximum 8 most difficult elements (including the dismount), fulfilling 5 composition requirements and by the values that exceed from the connections between the acrobatic elements, turns and acro-rhythmic elements. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of performed dance elements on the balance beam and their influence on: difficulty value, execution value and final score. The sample consisted of 109 women top junior athletes, who participated in qualifications on the European Championships in Birmingham in 2010. The results obtained showed that the gymnasts in average perform 4.28 dance elements in their balance beam routines. The highest frequency was determined to a C difficulty jump ˝switch leap˝ (N=101), to two A difficulty jumps: “wolf hop or jump from cross or side position” (N=83) and to ˝Sissone˝ (leg separation 180°) take off from both legs (N=61); and to A difficulty turn: “1/1 turn (360°) on one leg – free leg optional below horizontal” (N=66). Regression analysis revealed a statistically significant influence of some dance elements on the difficulty value of the exercise (p <0.05) and on the final score. Statistically significant influence of different dance elements on the execution value was not found.

With the new FIG Code of Points for men (2006) based on the philosophy of open ended difficulty score, point advantages have been given, again, to those who are in search for and willing to perform new elements. Each element in the Code of Points can be developed by changing its start and its final position, the start and the final grip with the apparatus, the body position during the element, by adding a flight phase or a rotation around the frontal, the longitudinal or the sagital axis. The Tkachev is quite an old release element (approximately 40 years old) on high bar. In line with the knowledge available to us today, we have been looking into the possibility of performing the Tkachev salto. Following series of biomechanical analysis with consideration of the gymnast's safety, we calculated that the Tkachev salto could be performed by those gymnasts who can perform the straight Tkachev with a high amplitude. Gymnast who will be able to perform the Tkachev salto at a major competition will enter the gymnastics history and have huge chances of wining the most prestigious competitions.