Staged-wave adaptation method for fin-swimmers transitioning to monofin in the aspect of injury prevention

The purpose of the study is the pedagogical evaluation of the effectiveness of a staged-wave methodological model for adapting swimmers using fins when transitioning to monofin swimming. Research methods and organization. Changes in competitive speed, wave-motion technique, and ankle joint mobility were evaluated in athletes aged 12 to 14. The testing was conducted in 2024–2025 at the State Educational Institution of Additional Education of the Tula Region “Regional Comprehensive Sports School of the Olympic Reserve” (Tula). The study involved 37 athletes with at least four years of experience in underwater sports. The experimental group followed a program with a phased increase in monofin swimming, targeted strength-flexibility micro-modules, and systematic video-biomechanical feedback. The control group trained according to the traditional curriculum of the sports school. Research results and conclusions. Over the course of eight weeks, the methodology provided the experimental group with an advantage of eight to ten percentage points on key indicators and was accompanied by a lower number of overload episodes. The data obtained confirm the practical value of the model for the safe and effective mastery of monofins during adolescence.