The Impact of Hemsball Training on Balance and Punto (Approaching) Scores in Boccia Athletes

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of an 8-week hemsball training on the development of balance and punto (approaching the target) performance in athletes aged 12-14 who play boccia in Bingöl province teams and train for more than 7 hours per week. The sample consisted of athletes who met the aforementioned criteria. The study involved 30 athletes, with 15 in the control group and 15 in the experimental group, who voluntarily played boccia. The experimental group received 60 minutes of hemsball training followed by boccia training, while the control group only received boccia training. Anthropometric measurements, including height, body weight, and BMI, as well as measurements of static and dynamic balance and punto (approach to target) scores, were taken before and after the 8-week exercise period. The data was evaluated using the SPSS 25 package program. The pre-test and post-test distributions of the study data were examined for each group, and normality and homogeneity of variances were determined using the Mauchly Sphericity Test and Levene test. Based on the test results, the dependent variables within each group were compared using the Paired-Sample T-test. The significance of the results was evaluated at a p-value of less than 0.05. The study found no significant difference in the mean values of height, body weight, and BMI of the experimental group after the 8-week hemsball training program (p>0.05). According to the data analysis results regarding the static and dynamic balance measurements of the hemsball training application, a significant difference at the p<0.05 level was found in the pre-test and post-test comparisons of the experimental group in the majority of the static and dynamic balance variables. No statistical difference was found in the control group and the between-group comparisons. According to the data analysis results regarding the Punto score measurements, a significant difference at the p<0.05 level was found in the pre and post-test comparisons of the experimental group in the punto score variable. No difference was found for the control group. Similarly, no statistical difference was observed between the groups.  As a result, it can be concluded that training with hemsball has a positive effect on the performance of young boccia athletes in static and dynamic balance and the punto score.