The Effect of Qualitative Exercises to Develop Motor Response Time to the Skill of Handing over and Receiving the Stick in the Relay Race for Students

Abstract

The study aimed to prepare specific exercises to develop motor response time with the skill of handing over and receiving the stick in the relay race in athletics for third-year students. To identify the effect of special exercises in improving the motor response time in delivering and receiving the stick in the relay race for the research sample members, the researcher used the experimental method by designing a single group with pre- and post-testing. The research community was determined as third-year students in the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences – University of Babylon for the academic year (2024-2025), and the research sample included (10) students. The pre- and post-test of motor response time in the relay race and the test of the skill of handing over and receiving the stick in the relay race were conducted, and they included the implementation of specific exercises. The application of specific exercises continued for (8) weeks at a rate of one educational unit per week, each unit lasting (20-25) minutes on the main side of the educational unit only. One of the conclusions that emerged from the research is that the skill of handing over and receiving the stick in a relay race has developed through the development of motor response time. Among the recommendations recommended by the researcher is to focus on using specific exercises within the training units for students of the faculties of physical education and sports sciences, because of their effective role in developing motor response time and improving the skill of handing over and receiving the stick in relay races.