The Effects of 6-Week Training Cessation on Anthropometrics, in-Water Force, Performance, and Kinematics of Young Competitive Swimmers: A Maturity Development Approach

To examine the effects of 6 weeks of training cessation on young swimmers' anthropometrics, in-water force, performance, and kinematics according to biological maturation. Eighteen swimmers (7 girls: 12.43 [0.73] y old; 11 boys: 13.27 [0.79] y old) were assessed pretest and posttest 6 weeks apart. Body mass, stature, arm span, and hand surface area were measured as anthropometric parameters, and biological maturation was estimated (ie, peak height velocity [PHV]). The in-water force was retrieved during 2 bouts of 25-m front crawl, allowing the estimation of the symmetry index. The time to complete the 25-m was considered the performance outcome, whereas velocity, stroke rate, stroke length, stroke index, and arm stroke efficiency were used as kinematic parameters. All anthropometric parameters increased during the detraining period. Although the in-water force remained unchanged, the magnitude of the effects was large for the symmetry index (P = .021; d = 0.87). For the pooled sample, neither performance nor kinematics changed after detraining, but the stroke index increased (P = .054; d = 0.27). Pre-PHV swimmers showed unchanged values in all parameters, despite natural growth. Mid-PHV swimmers showed a similar trend in addition to reductions in stroke rate (P = .040; d = 0.60) and increases in stroke length (P = .043; d = 1.00). In-water force, performance, and kinematics (25-m front crawl) were not impaired after 6 weeks of training cessation in a group of young swimmers. Given interindividual and intraindividual differences according to maturity status, coaches should be aware that distinct trends within the group can be found.