COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMPING PERFORMANCE OF TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTS AGED 10-13 YEARS

Trampoline gymnastics is a discipline that requires high motor coordination, precise spatial orientation, and significant lower limb power. One of the most reliable tools for assessing explosive strength is the countermovement jump (CMJ), which enables the analysis of biomechanical parameters of the jump. The aim of the study was to evaluate CMJ parameters in male and female trampoline gymnasts aged 10–13, considering their age and gender. The study included 86 athletes (50 girls and 36 boys) from 12 sports clubs in Poland. Two test variants were performed: with arm swing (CMJ-A) and without arm swing (CMJ), using a Kistler dynamometer platform. Jump height (H), maximum take-off velocity (Vmax), maximum ground reaction force (Fmax), and maximum power (Pmax) were analysed. The results showed a systematic increase in all parameters with age in both genders. Significant statistical differences between girls and boys were observed mainly in the CMJ test without arm swing – in jump height and take-off velocity among 11- and 13-year-olds, and in maximum power among the 10-year-olds. In the younger age groups, girls sometimes achieved higher Fmax values despite lower jump heights, which may be due to different movement strategies. The results confirm that the CMJ test, especially in the version without arm swing, is a useful tool for monitoring the development of lower limb explosive power and can support the process of sport selection in trampoline gymnastics.