The effect of spatial and temporal awareness training on the specific endurance of the advanced (400m) freestyle event

Abstract

The main research problem lies in the decline in the performance level of young 400m runners. Therefore, the researchers decided to develop special exercises to improve the sense of time and space in order to develop some physical abilities, namely speed endurance and performance in the 400m event for the youth category. The research questions are: What is the effect of special exercises based on the sense of distance and time on the speed endurance and performance of young 400m runners? The research aims to develop special exercises based on the sense of distance and time for speed endurance and performance for young 400m runners, and to identify the effect of special exercises based on the sense of distance and time on the speed endurance and performance of young 400m runners. The researchers hypothesized that using special exercises based on the sense of distance and time will positively affect the speed endurance and performance of young 400m runners. The importance and justification for the research lies in the fact that it addresses a vital aspect that has not been studied sufficiently in the Iraqi sports environment, which is the sense of distance and time and its effect on performance. Especially among elite athletes in the (400m) youth category. The research sample consisted of (12) competitors from Baghdad Governorate clubs participating in the Iraqi Championship for the (400m) youth category. The time frame was from 1/3/2025 to 1/5/2025, and the spatial area was the Ministry of Youth and Sports stadium in Baghdad. The researchers used the experimental method with the design of two experimental and control groups with pre- and post-tests, as it is the most suitable to address the research problem and verify its hypotheses. The researchers concluded that there is an effect of the special exercises used by the researchers on the experimental group according to the sense of distance and time in developing speed endurance and performance for the 400m youth event. The researchers recommended using special exercises to develop the sense of distance and time in training short sprints because of its effective role in performance