Differences in the structure of participants' activities in rhythmic gymnastics training depending on the type of apparatus

A sedentary lifestyle remains one of the biggest challenges faced by modern society. Although much is known about the benefits of physical activity, the majority of the population, especially children, do not engage in sufficient physical activity throughout the day. Children's participation in organized physical activities can be of great importance, but these activities must be adapted to the needs of the child and should encourage a certain amount of movement. Therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics of various activities to ensure that children's participation is purposeful. The aim of this study was to determine the active exercise time, the content of the training, and the pedagogical activity of coaches during different phases of rhythmic gymnastics training, which included the use of various apparatus as well as exercises without apparatus. A total of 126 girls, aged 7 to 11, participated in the study, and the activity of 60 girls, as well as six coaches, was analysed over 12 training sessions. Data were collected using the SOFIT instrument, which monitored the girls' activity, the training content, and the pedagogical activity of the coaches. The length of active time in all phases of training depended on the content used, and activity was generally higher in sessions involving apparatus. Coaches spent the most time giving instructions and demonstrating, with the time dedicated to demonstrations being significantly longer when apparatus were used in training.