Abstract
Expert athletes are able to creatively vary the skills of their sport and adapt them to suit the current situation. The present study was designed to examine adaptation in the athletics events shot put and long jump. Six intercollegiate long jumpers completed 3 jumps from a longer set distance and 3 jumps from a shorter set distance, to assess variability in stride length and point of take off. Six shot putters completed 2 throws with their dominant arm, 3 throws with their non-dominant arm. Timing of phases, angle and height of release, distance and velocity of the throw were all assessed. In the 3 shorter jumps the average take-off distance from the board was 5.54 cm (±3.78); 12.09 cm (±8.62) for the longer run up distance. The final stride in the short run up was 1.69 m (±0.11); in the longer distance 1.71 m (±0.08). The dominant hand throws of the shot put produced a mean height of release of 1.93 m (±0.01); angle of release 41.50°(±2.12); glide step distance of 1.03 m (±3.55); glide step time of 1.25 s (±0.12); and a release phase time of 0.29 s (±0.02). The non-dominant hand throws of the shot put athletes produced a mean height of release of 1.68 m (±0.20); angle of release 26.00°(±2.65); glide step distance of 0.83 m (±15.17); glide step time of 1.40 s (±0.07); and a release phase time of 0.41 s (±0.14). Results were compared to athletes' with intellectual disability to examine the relationship of cognitive ability to adaptation in closed sport skills.Acknowledgments: Manitoba Health Research Council