The effect of educational exercises to increase joint flexibility in learning the forward handstand jump skill on the floor exercise mat for physical education students - University of Diyala

Abstract

Artistic gymnastics is one of the individual sports that requires high physical fitness, including flexibility to perform skills. Any weakness in the flexibility of the body's joints affects the performance of players or students. The research problem is due to the lack of sufficient flexibility among students in performing skills. The researcher's goal is to prepare an educational curriculum for teaching the skill of the forward hand jump on the floor exercise mat, and to identify the percentage of flexibility achieved in the targeted body joints in teaching the skill of the forward hand jump on the floor exercise mat. The experimental method was used with a two-group design (experimental and control). The research sample was selected purposively, consisting of (30) third-year students from the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Diyala University. These students were divided into two groups: the experimental group (section A) and the control group (section B). The statistical tool SPSS was used. After presenting, analyzing, and discussing the results obtained by the researcher during the pre- and post-testing period, the researcher concluded that exercises using assistive devices increased joint flexibility in the experimental group, particularly in the forward handstand jump, to a higher level than the control group, which showed less improvement. Therefore, the researcher recommended adopting flexibility exercises using assistive devices in learning gymnastics skills due to their positive impact on students' flexibility and the time savings achieved during instruction.