Marek Strzala

Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego im. Bronisława Czecha w Krakowie | AWF · Theory and methodology of water sports

Human locomotion on water depends on the force produced by the swimmer to propel the body forward. Performance of highly complex motor tasks like swimming can yield minor variations that only nonlinear analysis can be sensitive enough to detect. The purpose of the present study was to examine the nonlinear properties of the hand/feet forces and des...

Background: The study aimed to assess differences in the biological age (BA) of 13-year-old swimmers and show their ability, as biologically younger—late mature or older—early mature, to develop fast 60-s oxygen uptake (V_O2) kinetics and tethered swimming strength. Furthermore, the interplay between swimming strength, V_O2, and 400-m front crawl r...

Race analysis performed by faster and slower swimmers enables the definition of effective strategies for carrying out the competition. Until now, measurements of this type were mainly conducted among top-level athletes. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in swimming technique in sprint races between faster (FS) and slower (SS) re...

Background: The aim of this research was to examine the relationship between the fast component of oxygen consumption developed in 1-min V ˙ O 2 and force indices both measured in tethered swimming test and to assess the influence of the gathered indices on speed and swimming kinematics in 200-m front crawl race. Methods: Forty-eight male swimmers...

Background: The aim was to analyse the relationship of body mass and predicted muscle mass of body segments on swimming kinematics and tethered swimming indices, and further assess the influence of those indices on 100-m front crawl performance of adolescent male swimmers. Methods: In 19 volunteer swimmers (age: 13.5 ± 0.44 years, height: 168.6...

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between a unique complex of predictors and 100 m front crawl race kinematics and swimming speed. In 28 male competitive swimmers (age: 19.6 ± 2.59 years), the following groups of predictors were assessed: (a) the morphologic, (b) the functional upper limb range of motion, and (c) the anaerob...

Pre-exercise caffeine and guarana-based multi-ingredient supplement (MS) consumption may be more effective for physical performance improvement than caffeine and guarana alone due to the synergistic effect of biologically active ingredients in multi-ingredient supplements. This study aimed to examine the acute effect of MS on the reactive agility a...

Knowledge of the circadian rhythm of the blind person and diurnal changes in anaerobic power and hormones concentration can create the possibility of individualising physical training. The aim of the study was to examine the time-of-day effects on anaerobic performance and the concentration of selected hormones. The measurements were performed at t...

Background: Some swimmers reach high performance level at a relatively young age. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between adolescent female swimmers' 100 m front crawl race (Vtotal100) and several anthropometry, body composition, and physiological and specific strength indices. Methods: Nineteen adolescent female swimm...

The aim of the study was to examine the impact of selected water- and dry-land predictors of 50-m front crawl performance among 27 male swimmers aged 19.3 ± 2.67 years. The following water tests were performed: front crawl tethered arm stroking in a water flume (flow velocity: 0.9 m·s–1) and leg tethered flutter kicking in a swimming pool. Anaerobi...

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of short-term (4 weeks, twice a week: 8 sessions) plyometric training on agility, jump, and repeated sprint performance in female soccer players. The study comprised 17 females performing this sports discipline. The players were randomly divided into two groups: with plyometric training (PLY) and th...

The pre-competition training phase is a period that precedes the main competition. Combined training phases of overload training (OT) and taper (TP) create the most popular pattern of final form preparation among the swimmers despite the methodology difficulties faced by coaches. In the IPC, the duration and training load were strictly set. The mai...

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of body composition on the anaerobic ability to generate strength and power produced separately by upper and lower limbs during dry-land and in-water (propulsion force) tests. Further examination included the influence of all gathered anaerobic strength indices on the results of 100-m...

Aim. The objective of this work was evaluation of rowing speed and effectiveness using the innovative “Laura” boat comparedto other rescue boats. Basic procedures. The research was conducted in July 2017 on Rożnów Lake amongst 20 men within the age of 20-22 years, students of the University of Physical Education in Kraków. Their task was to cover a...

The aim of this study was to investigate somatic properties and force production of leg extensor muscles measured in the countermovement jump test (CMJ), as well as to analyse kinematic variables of sprint surface butterfly swimming. Thirty-four male competitive swimmers were recruited with an average age of 19.3 ± 1.83 years. Their average body he...

Objectives: this study, conducted in two male age groups, was aimed at analysing the influence of body properties, dry-land strength and swimming strength on 50 m crawl (VCrawl). Methods: We examined two competitive groups, Youth (20.6 ± 1.05), and Junior, (17.3 ± 0.59), through: a. (lean) body mass (BM and LBM), (total) body height (BH and TBL)...

Background: This work is aimed at examining how coordination and kinematic indices interplay with swimming performance measured by average speed in 50m all-out test. Methods: The group of 34 male competitive swimmers (19.1± 1.91 years old) participated in the study. The underwater movements of swimmers' bodies were recorded providing side- shots...

The goal of this work is the analyze of 200 m freestyle swimming run, basing on the results achieved by the best athletes (women and men) during Olympic Games in years 2000–2012. The source, on which research has been carried out, were the split times of each sections of the 200 m freestyle swimming runs, taken from the official results published o...

The main goal of this work is to define the relationship between average air temperature, calculated basing on data from 10 main cities in Poland, and the number of drowning’s recorded between May and September of 2012. The source which is the basis to the analyze of number of drowning’s and its circumstances is the data about weather and numerical...

ENGLISH The article presents the characteristic of drowning in bodies of water located in Poland in years 2005–2014. The aim of the study was to describe the problem of drowning in statistical terms and identify reasons and circumstances, which appear along with such accidents. The research material included data concerning the number of drowning i...

ENGLISH The need of the safety as a state of peace and being unthreatened is expected by everybody, particularly by ones staying in places inseparably connected to risk. In special states, when the public goods, including safety of population, are endangered, the state is allowed to interfere, particularly by proper legal solutions. In order to lim...

ENGLISH This paper shows the results of research concerning the accuracy and reliability of the comprehensive evaluation of the examination for the junior lifeguard of WOPR rank. Sixty seven candidates for the lifeguard of WOPR rank (19 women and 48 men) took part in this research. The lifeguards were tested on such lifesaving abilities as: freesty...

The aim of this study was to investigate somatic properties and physiological capacity, and analyze kinematic parameters in the 200 m breaststroke swimming race. Twenty-seven male swim-mers participated in the study. They were 15.7±1.98 years old. Their average height was 1.80 ± 0.02 m and lean body mass (LBM) was 62.45 ± 8.29 kg. Physiological exe...

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine whether creatine malate (CML) supplementation results in similar ergogenic effect in sprinters and long-distance runners. The other goal was to compare changes in body composition, physical performance and hormone levels after six-week training in athletes, divided into subgroups supplemented with cre...

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to analyze the coordination, propulsion and non-propulsion phases in the 100 meter breaststroke race. Methods: Twenty-seven male swimmers (15.7 ± 1.98 years old) with the total body length (TBL) of 247.0 ± 10.60 [cm] performed an all-out 100 m breaststroke bout. The bouts were recorded with an underwater...

Despite the limitations set by FINA regulations, execution technique in breaststroke swimming is being improved thanks to more and more advanced analyses of the efficiency of the swimmer's movements. The aim of this study was to detect the parameters of the time structure of the cycle correlated with the maximal swimming speed at the of 50 meters d...

ENGLISH Introduction: In order to ensure the safety of citizens the authorities create various services. Ensuring security in the water areas, especially in the separated areas, is the duty of the Voluntary Water Rescue Team (Lifeguards, WOPR) who operate in the whole country. Rescuers of WOPR shall review the bathing areas and swimming pools, reve...

The breaststroke kick is responsible for a considerable portion of the forward propulsion in breaststroke swimming. The aim of this study was to measure selected anthropometric variables and functional properties of a swimmer's body: length of body parts; functional range of motion in the leg joints and anaerobic power of the lower limbs. Chosen ki...

The Development and Prediction of Athletic Performance in Freestyle Swimming This paper analyses the dynamics of changes between the performances of elite freestyle swimmers recorded at particular Olympic Games. It also uses a set of chronologically ordered results to predict probable times of swimmers at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The analy...

The Role of Training in the Development of Adaptive Mechanisms in Freedivers Freediving is a sport in which athletes aim to achieve the longest or the deepest breath-hold dive. Divers are at risk of gradually increasing hypoxia and hypercapnia due to a long time spent underwater and additionally of increasing hyperoxia while depth diving. Exceeding...

Introduction. Human stay under water with breath hold is limited by production and accumulation in organism of carbon dioxide with simultaneous increase in oxygen shortage, high hydrostatic pressure in internal przyspace, especially on chest and ears. Physical and mental predispositions as well as the age belong to basic factors determining human a...

Free diving is a sport discipline that involves diving as long as possible while holding breath. A diver’s success is primarily determined by breath-holding time, resistance to water pressure, and resistance to fatigue. The aim of this study is to analyze in world free diving records that indicate human adaptive potential for breath-hold diving in...

Altitude Training and its Influence on Physical Endurance in Swimmers It is possible to plan an altitude training (AT) period in such a way that the enhanced physical endurance obtained as a result of adaptation to hypoxia will appear and can be used to improve performance in competition. Yet finding rationales for usage of AT in highly trained swi...

Among factors influencing frontal (form) resistance in swimming the angle between the swimmer's body and the line of his/her horizontal movement is particularly important. The measurement of this angle called the angle of attack (α) represents indirectly active torque (τa) during swimmer's body movement. Purpose. The aim of the study was to measure...

Introduction: Appropriate swimming techniques and anaerobic capacity have a strong influence on factors related to performance in young swimmers. This study evaluated the factors attributed to performance in sprint front crawl swimmers. Aim of the study: To investigate the level of aerobic and anaerobic component of physical endurance, swimming tec...

The aim of the observation was to examine the relationships between endurance indices and technique parameters on 400 in front crawl swimming. 26 swimmers were examined (16.1 +/- 1.09 years. Basic body variables (BH 177.5 +/- 8.07 [cm], BM 65.4 +/- 9.40 [kg]) and maximal oxygen uptake during arm crancking or leg cycling (3.14 +/- 0.54 and 3.82 +/-...

Purpose. The authors tried to point out the crucial factors determining swimming results in a 2000m front crawl race. Basic procedures. Two groups of subjects: G1 (16.8 ± 0.77 years) and G2 (14.7 ± 0.49 years) of 15 swimmers each took part in two incremental tests for assessing aerobic endurance of arms in arm cranking (V̇O2maxAR) and of legs in cy...

Front crawl swimming velocity is related to the swimming technique, i.e. it is modified by the swimmer depending on the swimming distance. The technique mastery also determines the athlete's somatic indices and physiological abilities. Purpose. The purpose of the study was to examine factors affecting front crawl swimming results at distances of 40...

The most important components determining sport results of competitive swimmers include somatic, physiological and psychological properties. The main objective of this work was to identify the main factors determining sport results of elite polish freestyle swimmers at 100 and 400 meters. The research material included 16 male swimmers between the...