The Effect of Neuromuscular Coordination Exercises on Improving Performance of Some Basic Hoop Skills in Rhythmic Gymnastics

Abstract

 Rhythmic gymnasts sometimes face difficulty in performing some basic skills, especially when using the hoop, due to weak neuromuscular coordination. This affects their accuracy, flexibility, and speed of response during training. Neuromuscular coordination exercises are among the methods that improve coordination between the muscular and nervous systems, which contributes to developing gymnasts' basic skills and improving their performance with various gymnastic equipment. This study aimed to utilize neuromuscular coordination exercises to improve skill performance with the hoop for rhythmic gymnastics students. The researcher hypothesized that there would be statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test. The researcher adopted the experimental method and used a two-group design (control and experimental). The research sample consisted of (28) students, with (14) students representing the control group.  (14) female students represent an experimental group, so the program consists of (12) weeks, with one unit per week. The tools used are the hoop tool, and the basic skills are (alternating jump, upward hug jump, and full rotation). As for the test results, they were processed using the statistical package (SPSS). The researcher concluded that neuromuscular coordination exercises have a clear effect on improving the performance of the experimental group and increasing accuracy and speed in executing the performance. As for the recommendations, they were to include coordination exercises in training programs for other skills and to adopt the program on a regular basis.