Systematic observation in the technical evaluation of canoe paddling: design of an observational tool
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17398/1885-7019.22.67Keywords:
observational methodology, data quality, generalizability, canoeingAbstract
Technical precision during the paddling gesture is a fundamental element for sports performance in canoeing. Therefore, its evaluation and analysis are a primary objective for athletes in this discipline. Given the scarcity of existing instruments to explore this technical gesture, the objective of the present study was to design and validate an observation tool to evaluate the canoe paddling technique in canoeing, specifically in the canoe modality. The tool was designed ad hoc using a mixed system of field format and exhaustive and mutually exclusive category systems. The tool consists of 20 criteria and 56 categories and was validated based on the visualization of the training of three male and three female paddlers of the Real Círculo de Labradores de Sevilla (Spain) during the 2021-2022 season. The results of the Data Quality and Generalizability analysis showed high correlation and inter- and intra-observer concordance indexes, both being close to 1 and higher than 0.85. In addition, the results obtained in the Generalizability analysis were also adequate, resulting in relative G and absolute G coefficients with values above 0.81. The study suggests that the observational tool developed is suitable to evaluate the canoe paddling technique.
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