THE FACTOR OF COHESION FOR ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN TEAM COMPETITIONS OF FENCERS AT THE STAGE OF SPORTS SPECIALIZATION

The purpose of the study is to enhance the level of group cohesion among the sabre fencers by implementing a set of special activities (means) into the educational and training process.
Research methods and organization: methods of analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature, surveys, pedagogical experiments, and methods of mathematical statistics were employed. Sixteen sabre fencers participated in the study. In the first stage, the initial level of group cohesion and other sociological parameters characterizing the system of intra-group relations were assessed. The group sociometric status, indicating the degree of cohesion of the group, was determined using the sociometric method. In the second stage of the research, a pedagogical experiment was conducted. The experimental group utilized a set of tools aimed at fostering team formation to achieve success in both individual and team fencing competitions. The other group of fencers, the control group, trained according to the sports training program for fencing with the same volume of educational and training sessions, where measures to enhance collective team cohesion were applied only within the framework of the regulatory document.
Research results and conclusions. The application of the entire complex of special pedagogical tools aimed at developing group actions of young athletes and their joint (team) interests has led to reliable positive outcomes, manifested in an increase in the indicators of cohesion, the desire to train, and satisfaction with the training process. Another confirmation of the effectiveness of the application of the complex of pedagogical measures and specially organized activities for the organization of joint team activities of young athletes was the results of competitive activities, which is important as it allows for the intensification of the process of improving technical skills and combat actions in fencing in the future.

fencing, cohesion, team competitions, stage of sports specialization