Sovetsky Sport. December 29, 1967. So, the opinions of the majority of interested persons have been expressed. But, as you yourself understand, it is impossible to sum up the discussion without listening to what the USSR Gymnastics Federation thinks about the issues raised. Here we talk with the chairman of the Federation, Hero of the Soviet Union Gleb Vladimirovich Baklanov.
Q: Gleb Vladimirovich, what, in your opinion, should be understood by the term 'early specialization in gymnastics' and what is your attitude to this issue?
A: There are several points of view here. Some believe it is necessary to start specializing children as gymnasts from the age of 5-6, others - from 10-12 years, a third - from 13-14 years. Points of view on each of these provisions were expressed during the discussion, and there is no need to repeat them. In March, we are to hold an All-Union conference on gymnastics, which will summarize the various opinions of specialists, coaches, and scientists to determine the role and place of gymnastics in the physical education system, and its direction and paths for further development. The question you have posed, along with others, will certainly be the subject of a broad discussion and, to a certain extent, a fight over opinion.
As for my personal point of view, in any case it is inappropriate to focus on extremes. In the struggle between the old and the new, it's always better to look for ways to corretly justify and combine views. If we talk about early specialization in gymnastics, then it is probably most responsible, as in any case, to begin with laying the foundation, the basis, on which you can build the corresponding superstructure.
Q: What should be considered the basis in this case?
A: First of all, for any kind of sport it's necessary to lay the foundation of general, comprehensive physical training with scientific consideration of the capabilities of the child's body. Probably, if we talk about a younger age (5-6 years old), then we should not mean sports, but physical education (various games, free exercises), also with a children's playful focus - learning to swim, ski, skate, rhythm and choreography.
At 10-12 years old, it's probably advisable to instill in the child sports skills of a diverse nature - for general physical training, but already by specific means - track and field, general gymnastics, acrobatics, and including simple elements of swimming and games. Here it's necessary to determind the abilities and inclinations of children to one or another sport. From 12-13 years old, relying on the basis of general physical training, taking into account abilities and talents, it's possible to determint specialization, in particular in gymnastics. However, with all this, it's necessary to overcome the tendency to immediately prepare a child as a certain athlete, especially a top-class one, as sometimes happens now, when other coaches 'step over the so-called 'school' volume of exercises on various apparatus and engage in drilling.
Q: Your personal point of view: at what age is it best to start children with sports gymnastics?
A: In the Regulations on Children's and Youth Sport Schools the age limits are specified quite precisely (comprehensive children's and youth sports schools accept girls from 10-11 years old, boys from 11 years old; specialized sports schools accept both girls and boys from 9-10 years old). Unfortunately, this position does not serve as an immutable law today. Some coaches allow themselves any experiments, without taking into account scientifically-based recommendations or even common sense. At the core of any case there should be a general provision - in this case Receipt on Sports Schools. If it is appropriate, if science and practice suggest, the document can be reviewed and modified. But not before the need for such a change is substantiated and discussed.
Q: Is the Federation satisfied with the state of its reserves, given the current trend towards a sharp rejuvenation?
A: Yes and no. Yes, beause thanks to the efforts of experienced and gifted coaches, in recent years a whole galaxy of talented gymnasts has appeared on our platform: N. Kuchinskaya, L. Petrik, Z. Voronina, L. Turischeva, L. Burda, M. Voronin, S. Diomidov, V. Klimenko, V. Karasev, A. Kozeev, and others. Close behind them we see a number of young athletes who have not yet achieved the necessary mastery. If we talk specifically about these young people, then the Federation is clearly concerned about 'super-early specialization.' In their pursuit of difficulty, in order to quickly obtain the title of Candidate for Master of Sports, some coaches have clearly compromised the quality of their students' training, especially that of young men. The boys' strength capabilities are not yet sufficient, and this deprives them of the basic necessary 'safety margin,' forcing them to perform both the compulsory and optional programs with excessive strain. Unfortunately, the athletes lack lightless, beauty, and grace - in short, what we call performance skill.
This fact was clearly coonfirmed at the recent USSR Youth Championship. The Presidium of the Gymnastics Federation was forced to draw the attention of the republican federations and coaches to the need to strengthen attention to the qualitative aspect of the training gymnasts, especially male gymnasts.
Q: In your opinion, are exceptions permissible for especially gifted young gymnasts who are capable of performing at a higher level than that stipulated by the classification system?
A: First of all, it's necessary to determine the value of such an exception. Is it for the sake of creating a sensation, to boost the popularity of the coach who trained such a 'prodigy,' or is it necessary for the further progress of our gymnastics, with the expectation that the child will be ready and able to defend the country's sporting honor on the international stage? There is also another important factor - the athletic longevity of these 'child prodigies'. And further: what is the benefit for them of great physical, moral, and nervous strain? All these questions require careful study.
Q: Does the Federation intend to make any proposals to revise the existing All-Union classification?
A: I believe this issue will also be discussed at the upcoming conference.