The Impact of Changes in Competition Rules on the Sports Match of Taekwondo Athletes

Abstract

Purpose: to determine the impact of changes in competition rules on the sports match of taekwondo athletes. Materials and Methods. The study used the following methods: theoretical analysis of scientific, methodological, and specialized literature, generalization of practical experience, and survey. The survey involved coaches from Ukraine (n=56), who teach ITF taekwondo with an average coaching experience of 12.8±8.1 years (Mean±SD). The questionnaire consisted of 20 questions and was created using the Google Forms online platform. The questions of the questionnaire addressed various aspects of athletes competitive activity and their sports preparation. Results. The survey involved coaches from Ukraine (n=56), who teach ITF taekwondo with an average coaching experience of 12.8±8.1 years. The majority of coaches were from the central (n=29, 52%) and eastern (n=22, 39 %) regions. Analysis of the coaches responses regarding the reasons for changes in the ITF taekwondo competition rules indicates that these changes were aimed at stimulating the development of kicking techniques (n=34, 60.7 %) and enhancing the appeal of the competition (n=19, 33.9 %). Increasing the appeal of the competitive match, according to the coaches, can be achieved by increasing its intensity (n=33, 58.9 %), meaning increasing the number of diverse technical and tactical actions in both attack and defense. The most significant changes in the competitive match of taekwondo athletes, according to the coaches, occurred after the introduction of computer technologies in sparring refereeing (n=28, 50 %) and mandatory scoring kicks (n=25, 44.6 %). Changes in competition rules affected match tactics, as stated by 94.6% of coaches (n=53). This is related to both scoring kicks and the algorithm for constructing technical-tactical combinations. Half of the coaches (n=28) consider counterattacks to be more effective, while 41.1% (n=23) favor attacks. The survey on technical and tactical aspects revealed that 64.3 % (n=36) of athletes use kicking techniques, while 35.7 % (n=20) use hand techniques. The survey also showed that psychological resilience (n=29, 52%), integrated training (n=11, 20 %), physical fitness level (n=9, 16 %), and technical skill (n=7, 12 %) are of great importance for achieving high competitive results at the current stage of taekwondo development. Questions regarding injuries in taekwondo revealed that 75 % (n=42) of coaches believe changes in competition rules have not led to an increase in injuries during sports matches, but 25% (n=14) of coaches believe such an impact exists. They report that leg injuries account for 89.4 % (n=50), hand injuries 5.3 % (n=3), and other injuries 5.3% (n=3). Conclusions. Changes in the ITF taekwondo competition rules are mainly aimed at stimulating the development of kicking techniques and the appeal of the competitive match. The most significant changes in the competitive match of taekwondo athletes occurred after the introduction of computer technologies in sparring refereeing and mandatory scoring kicks. The introduction of complex-coordination, scoring kicks increased the demands on the technical and tactical preparedness of athletes. To improve the technical-tactical preparedness of athletes in competitive matches, new methodologies for enhancing their cognitive skills and visual-motor coordination are necessary. Based on the survey analysis, it is concluded that psychological resilience is an important factor influencing the sports results of athletes. This highlights the need for effective psychological preparation methods. According to the coaches, changes in competition rules have not increased injuries in taekwondo sports matches, but the issue of injuries remains relevant. The reduction of injuries can be achieved by rationally distributing matches throughout the competition day, enhancing referees qualifications, adding modern, convenient protective equipment, and optimizing the training process.