JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Over the last several years, nearly all sports in Indonesia implement the knowledge of sports science, one sport through an integrated athlete monitoring application (IAM) Prima. However, the implementation still needs to be refined and adjusted.
The national central training (Pelatnas) for boxing applied the IAM Prima application last February. The application, on Android, was admitted by trainer Hermensen Ballo, to help monitor the training and physical condition of the boxers. Before the use of the application, the Task Force for the Indonesian Gold Program (Satlak Prima) held physical trainings based on the experiences of the trainers. There was not a fixed measurement or target to be achieved through training.
Through the use of the application the physical condition of the athletes can be seen improving. It was reflected in the performance of the Pelatnas boxers in the Asian Championship in Uzbekistan last week. “From the side of stamina, our boxers have no problem. They only lose in technique and strategy because of the lack of experience,” said Hermensen last week.
At weightlifting training, the IAM Prima application offered by Satlak Prima was rejected because it was considered not in accordance with the needs of the athletes. Moreover, the practice pattern being offered was not discussed in advance with the trainers.
"Officials of Satlak Prima offered the training portion, however, weightlifting athletes do not need endurance training," said Alamsyah, the Pelatnas weightlifting manager.
According to Alamsyah, the weightlifting athletes have undergone a training with a sports science influence focused on strength. This was advised by a sports science expert with a doctorate degree from Australia, and this type of training has been applied since preparations for 2016 Rio Olympics.
Not yet ideal
The badminton training in Cipayung also applies its own sports science and does not use the program from Satlak Prima. However, the head of the physical sub-field of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), Felix Ary Bayu Marta, admitted the application of sports science was not ideal. The ideal situation would include complete training equipment and various experts, such as psychologists, bio-mechanic experts and physiologists, who can examine the shortcomings, advantages and specific needs for athletes.
"If equipment and human resources are more complete, the performance of each athlete during competition can be analyzed, whether his or her movement is effective or not. For example, how many times Marcus (Fernaldi Gideon) scored points from smashes to the backhand vs forehand of opponents, the jumping has to be precisely how high and etc," he said.
In developed countries, like Japan, the knowledge and technology become an integral part of sporting achievement. When Kompas visited the Japanese National Athlete Training Center in Tokyo last January, the combination of science, technology and sports was visible. The facility accommodates training activities for 10 different sports and is located in one complex with the Japanese Institute of Science of Sports.
The Sports and Youth Ministry seeks to build a similar facility in the Indonesian Integrated Sport Training Center in Cibubur, East Jakarta. Even though it is far from ideal, the complex will be used by athletes of archery and taekwondo. (JON/ IND/ IYA/ ECA)
