Quais os conhecimentos que treinadores de ginástica têm para intervir com pessoas com deficiência físico-motora?

Abstract

Our aim was to identify what knowledge gymnastics coaches have in order to intervene with people with physical-motor disabilities (PMD). Six rhythmic and artistic gymnastics coaches answered an electronic questionnaire with questions related to disability conditions, adaptations and teaching methodologies. The majority of the participants (n = 5; 83%) rated themselves as poorly prepared to intervene with people with PMD. In addition, the coaches' main challenges are related to specific knowledge about the disability, individualization and adaptation of teaching. The adaptations and strategies suggested by the group of participants with experience with gymnasts with PMD (n = 2; 33,3%) were superficial, but were still more applicable than those suggested by the majority of participants without this experience (n = 3; 50%). We conclude that gymnastics coaches have insufficient knowledge to intervene with people with PMD, especially in relation to specific disability knowledge and the development of adaptations.