Features of university students’ preparation for participation in city-level track and field relays

The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the author's methodology aimed at improving the quality of baton passing under conditions of high participant density during city track and field relay races. Research methods and organization. The study utilized methods of pedagogical observation, comparative pedagogical experiment, and mathematical statistics. The educational process of the relay participants – students of the experimental group – included a methodology consisting of five motor tasks aimed at improving technical and coordination abilities in passing the relay baton under conditions of high participant density. Research results. The results obtained demonstrated the effectiveness of the author's methodology in situations such as passing a relay baton while running around an obstacle and passing a relay baton in a narrowed corridor, which was visually reflected in greater coordination and coherence of the actions of the passer and receiver and in a smaller number of errors, and quantitatively – in better performance times for these elements in the context of the exchange zone.