Effect of a Specific Warm-up based on Oppositional Wrestling Games on The Technical Performance and Mental Health of Physical Education Students

Abstract

Background and study aim. This study explored the impact of two different specific warm-up protocols (consisting of either opposition games or classical exercises) on technical-tactical performance, intrinsic motivation and stress levels in wrestling schoolchildren.

Materials and methods. Sixty-three schoolchildren divided into two parallel groups (specific warm-up opposition game group: EG, n = 18, aged 12.42 ± 0.87 years; and classical specific warm-up group: CG, n = 18, aged 12.41 ± 0.78 years) who completed three 75-minute sessions over four weeks practicing different specific warm-up exercises.

Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS to find the normality, mean and standard deviation. A two-factor mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) model with repeated measures was performed to measure differences in mental health and technical-tactical performance for both group.

Results. Several results emerged from this study; (i) EG who followed a specific warm-up program based on opposition games performed better in the wrestling test and were able to improve the number of successful leg attack skills, with a significant interaction compared to CG, (ii) EG obtained a better leg attack score due to their quality of execution and (iii) Compared with children in the CG group children in the EG group feel happy and motivated and their stress levels decrease.

Conclusion. Wrestling teaching and training specialists should be convinced of the beneficial effects of exercises based on opposition games on students' technical and mental skills.