Features of the educational and training process of amateur athletes in non-olympic triathlon programs (based on the results of a sociological study)

Abstract

The research focuses on analyzing the theoretical aspects of the training process for amateur athletes participating in non-Olympic triathlon programs, modern methodological approaches to designing training programs, their adaptation to the individual characteristics of amateur athletes, and the impact of innovative technologies on the effectiveness of physical preparation. The specifics of preparing amateur triathletes are determined by the need to balance training, professional activities, and other life aspects. Therefore, an effective training process is based on a personalized approach that considers the level of physical fitness, age-related characteristics, adaptability to workloads, and motivational factors. Innovative digital technologies play a significant role in modern triathlon, enabling effective monitoring of an athlete's physical and functional condition, workload levels, and progress indicators. The use of specialized platforms and sports gadgets allows for controlling athletes' functional states, optimizing training plans, and adapting them in real-time according to individual needs. Today, the need for a comprehensive approach to organizing the training process for amateur triathletes is becoming increasingly relevant. This approach combines traditional methods of physical preparation with innovative technological solutions and a balanced use of club training, independent work, and interactive support, enabling amateur athletes to achieve an optimal level of physical fitness. Purpose: To determine the features of the structure of the training process for amateur athletes in non-Olympic triathlon programs within private sports clubs. Methods: Analysis of scientific and methodological literature, regulatory framework, sociological survey, data analysis, and statistical methods. The survey involved 10 amateur athletes aged 35–39 years. Results: It was established that the organization of the training process for amateur athletes in non-Olympic triathlon programs requires the integration of innovative approaches to physical training, taking into account the characteristics of the athletes' age group, their individual traits, and training conditions. According to the sociological survey, 72.7% of amateur athletes plan their training process based on competitions in non-Olympic triathlon programs, focusing on the following distances: «Half Ironman» (1.9 km swimming, 90 km cycling, 21.1 km running) and «Ironman» (3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling, 42.2 km running). The remaining 27.3% of respondents prefer medium competitive distances (“Olympic distance» – 1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling, 10 km running) and sprint distances (“Sprint» – 0.75 km swimming, 20 km cycling, 5 km running). All participants of the survey dedicate time to training in private sports clubs 3 to 5 times a week. Additionally, most amateur athletes plan to spend extra time on independent training, ranging from 16 to 20 hours per week, in the form of online training and using sports platforms for performance monitoring (mobile apps, sports gadgets, etc.). It should also be noted that the majority of respondents have an average level of physical and special preparation, indicating the need for optimization of training programs.

Conclusions: The obtained data highlight the necessity of a personalized approach to the structure of the training process for amateur athletes in non-Olympic triathlon programs, individualization of physical training methods, and the use of modern, innovative technologies for monitoring triathletes' physical performance.