However, the cause-effect relationship is strengthened by the temporal ordering of events and the novel nature of the split leap. Subjective observation showed that these athletes demonstrated dramatic improvement in split leaps, kicks, straddle jumps and similar skills. Perhaps the most obvious observation of improvement came on balance beam where the different shape-jumps demonstrated dramatic increases in leg height and amplitude. Although a three to four percent improvement in performance might be considered small, among elite athletes such an improvement is large. Figure 2 shows two images representative of increasing the angle of the split leap by 5 degrees.
Further research needs to be performed with an adequate control group.
A four week training period is rather short, therefore a longer training program is warranted and the gymnastics groups could be expanded to include less highly trained gymnasts. References Bloomfield, J., and G. Wilson. Flexibility in sport. Brodie, D. A., and J. Royce. Developing flexibility during childhood and adolescence.