Biathlon Shooting Training with SCATT-Simulator

Accuracy Shooting Training of Young Biathletes

Elena Plotskaya and Anna Zakharova

Institute of Physical Education, Sport and Youth Policy, Ural Federal University, Mira Street, Ekaterinburg, Russia

Keywords: Biathlon, Shooting Training, SCATT –Shooting Simulator.

Abstract: Teaching marksmanship to beginners in biathlon is extremely difficult. The usage of SCATT shooting

simulator system, its software and shooting parameters interpretation are under consideration. Methods. A

group of 12 well-trained young biathletes (6 males and 6 females), 14-19 years old, with 3-5 years of

training experience in skiing and biathlon were recruited as participants. Every athlete had 0.5 hours of

SCATT-shooting 3 times per week. Each athlete’s shooting parameters were measured on the 1

, 10

, 18

and 21

days of our experiment. Results. Novices in shooting decreased the average aiming trajectory length

“L” from 434 ± 39 mm to 370 ± 65 mm and improved the graph “Coordination” line and its location within

the target zone in biathlon standing shooting. The average shooting “Result” was 4.5±1.08 in novices

(enough for biathlon standing shooting). All young biathletes with 3-5 years of shooting experience

corrected the shooting aiming errors. The dynamics of “L” is individual and too dependent on the athlete’s

fatigue degree.

1 INTRODUCTION

Biathlon is a worldwide-popular spectator sport

combining cross-country skiing and small-caliber

rifle shooting. Biathlon shooting is highly

demanding because it has a number of specific

features:

• competition rules factors (a shooting round of 5

shots, 2 or 4 shooting rounds per race

depending on the event and, moreover, on a

background of high physical fatigue due to

cross-country skiing);

• physiological factors (high heart rate and

lactate level caused by high intensity of skiing

race);

• psychological factors (physiological arousal,

mental judgment, fast shooting,

unexpectedness, shooting in contact with other

competitors and a large number of spectators);

• challenging environmental factors (wind, low

temperature, and lighting).

The cost of poor shooting is very high in elite

biathlon: each miss means additional 150 meters of

penalty loop skiing or 1 minute of penalty time

according to the rules.

Teaching marksmanship to beginners in biathlon

is extremely difficult as the shooting mistakes are

hard to find and hard to explain in the shooting

range. Shooting training requires not only coaching

skills and experience, but also technological support

by means of feedback, that is, shooting simulation

systems.

Shooting simulation systems (Soetenjio, 2011,

Zvereva, 2015, Merlo, 2010, Raphael, 2009, etc) are

popular and have been widely used in the armed

forces, shooting sports, hunting societies and

biathlon for more than 20 years. Simulators are

bulletless, silent, safe, simple and inexpensive

shooting skills training devices. The most commonly

used simulators in biathlon are digital electronic-

laser system such as SCATT shooting training

system (Russian Federation) (http://www.scatt.com),

Noptel Sport II 50 shooting training (Finland)

(http://www.noptel.fi), HoRa 2000 L ̶ Laser

Biathlon System (Germany)

(http://www.hora2000.de) and АО “Eko-Aims”

(Finland) (http://www.eko-aims.com). The shooting

simulation system action is based on infrared

radiation and the principle of camera operation. The

software shows the rifle movement during the

aiming, trigger handling\processing and the score.

Plotskaya, E. and Zakharova, A..

Biathlon Shooting Training with SCATT-Simulator - Accuracy Shooting Training of Young Biathletes.

In Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support (icSPORTS 2015), pages 59-65

ISBN: 978-989-758-159-5

 2015 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All r ights reserved

The Finnish armed forces used АО “Eko-Aims”

(Finland) in reservists’ shooting training. The Eko-

Aims E-BSS shooting system is designed for

visually impaired biathletes based on their needs.

The system is officially approved by the

International Paralympics Committee and is used in

World Cup competitions, and in Paralympics.

Hearing is used to compensate for sight deficiency

in this type of shooting. (http://www.eko-aims.com).

HoRa 2000 L - Laser Biathlon System is

mountable on any Anschütz-Biathlon-Rifle and the

shooting training is available for the original

distance of 50 meters and shorter distances, such as

10 or 5 meters.

Sport Shooting Training with Noptel Sport II 50

(http://www.noptel.fi) is a tool for training with

multiple targets. One can use it indoors at 5 - 10

meters distance with the scaled down biathlon target,

or outdoors at the real 50 meters shooting distance

with 4P38 Prism Group Unit attached to a real-size

biathlon target. Noptel Sport II 50 software displays

and analyzes each shot providing valuable

information about your shooting skills. The

application software shows the gun orientation path

on the screen in real time and stores the shots to

database for closer analysis and review.

With SCATT shooting system (Russian

Federation) one can use any type of weapon and

simulate shooting at distances up to 1000 meters

with aiming at its own electronic target (figure 1). A

coach should pay special attention to the aiming

trajectory, displayed on the computer screen. The

aiming trajectory provides a coach and an athlete

with complete information about the aiming

accuracy and mistakes made before and while

shooting. This information needs to be interpreted in

order to find the shooting mistakes and explain what

to do to avoid them.

A general mistake in shooting is connected with

the concentration of attention. The concentration of

attention (from the Latin - Con - with, together;

Сentrum - center) is the intensity of focus on a

particular object or part of the activity (Dushkov,

2005, Мozheiko, 2003). The problem of

uncontrolled misses occurs due to the unconscious

focus reset when an athlete considers the shot having

been already completed and pulls the trigger with

thoughts about the next shot (thinking about the next

shot). In shooting sports it is impossible to get rid of

accidental misses completely even in case of elite

athletes (Astafiev, 2007, Кhuedеlien, 2010). But to

reduce this error rate staying focused is the task of

each athlete.

The graph “Coordination” for shooting novices

and experienced biathletes in dynamics during

shooting training sessions with SCATT shooter

training system is under consideration.

2 DEVICE DESCRIPTION

Figure 1: Shooting with SCATT shooting system (http://

www.scatt.com).

The SCATT shooting system simulator consists of

the optical sensor, fasteners (to secure the optical

sensor on the weapon), the optical target located 5-

10 meters from the shooter, the target interface

cable, the electronic target control and computer

software (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Shooting system simulator SCATT (http:/

/www.scatt.com).

The SCATT shooting simulator operation is based

on determining the aiming point coordinates. The

aiming points create the shooter’s target path. The

geometry of the path (aiming trajectory) and its

length are determined by the shooter’s qualification

level.

The SCATT simulator displays online aiming

trajectory of each shot and saves it in memory for

further shooting analysis. The SCATT shooting

simulator provides us with the following data

captured or calculated from the series of preferably

10 or more shots:

• Timing indicators: the total time of the shooting,

min: sec; the shooting interval as a period of

time between shots, min: sec.

• Quantitative indicators: the “Result” parameter

of each shot and group shooting and the average

score; the “L” parameter which shows the

average length of the aiming trajectory during 1

second before the shot, mm.

icSPORTS 2015 - International Congress on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support

• Qualitative indicators: time of the aiming point

location in 10.0 zone, %; the shot hole group

diameter, mm - the distance between the centers

of the outermost holes; “aiming point speed

graph” before a shot, of the current shot and at

the shooting stage (speed, mm/sec);

“Coordination” graph.

In our opinion, the SCATT shooting system is the

most relevant one for the comparative “shooting

technique-result” analysis. Especially effective is the

current analysis of the aiming point line displayed

on the computer monitor.

The analysis of “Coordination” graphs (Figure 3)

allows exploring the deviation of the aiming point

from the centre of the target in the final phase of the

shot (pulled trigger) during shooting training

sessions. The dynamics of this aiming line are

individual, like handwriting, with mistakes and

specific features, but there are certain patterns

(Figure 3).

Figure 3: “Coordination” graphs of the elite shooter (line

1) and the elite biathlete (line 2) in a standing position.

The analysis of the “Coordination” graph of a

highly-skilled shooter (Figure 3, line 1) revealed that

-line named ‘a shot follow-through’ is nearly

straight and almost horizontal. Segment B

is a

short-term retention of concentration during 0,1 sec

just after the shot.

The “Coordination” graph (Figure 3, line 2) is an

elite biathlete’s aiming trajectory. It demonstrates

that from the moment of the shot decision (point A

)

to the shot itself (point B

) there is a loss of 0,4 ±

0,1 points during 0,3 sec.

The segment B

‘aiming line retention after the

shot’ is deliberately increased to 0.3 sec., because

relatively long concentration retention is necessary,

in our opinion, for the biathlon shooting round. Such

aiming line fixation immediately after shooting is

justified in the specific conditions of biathlon, that

is, high heart rate intensity zones, increased tremor,

striving to minimize the time an athlete spends at the

shooting range, and it also contributes to aligning the

rhythm and reliability of the shooting session.

A biathlete is inferior to an elite rifle-shooter in

the shooting performance, however, it should be

noted that the diameter of the biathlon shooting

target for standing shooting is 115 mm, which

allows biathletes not to aim at scoring "tens" (the

very centre of the target) only (it is enough to hit

within the edge of the target to score 4.5 points).

The score lost from the conventional decision-

making point (A

) to the shooting moment (B

) of an

elite shooter is low (0,4 ± 0,25 points), whereas for

biathletes it is about 0,75 ± 0,25 points.

3 ORGANIZATION AND

METHODS

Subjects. A group of 12 well-trained young

biathletes (6 males and 6 females), 14-19 years old,

with 3-5 years of training experience in skiing and

biathlon were recruited as participants. Subjects №

1,2,3 (Table 2) had no experience in shooting,

Subjects № 4-12 (Table 2) had 2-5 years of sport

experience in biathlon. The participants’ training

load was about 30 hours per week including the

usual means of biathlon training in preparatory

period: roller skiing, nordic walking and cross-

country running, shooting on a shooting range,

power training and the SCATT simulator shooting.

Research Design. The current research was carried

out during 3 weeks in August 2012 with SCATT-

simulator shooting. Every athlete had 0.5 hours of

SCATT-shooting 3 times per week. Each athlete’s

standing shooting parameters were measured on the

, 10

, 18

and 21

days of our experiment.

At the start of the first shooting training session

with SCATT simulator our subjects were informed

about the shooting cycle algorithm and the indicators

of SCATT shooting which were important to

monitor (graph “Coordination”).

We assumed that a number of rifle shooting

mistakes seen on “Coordination” graph in the

shooting simulator SCATT may be easily corrected

or avoided. But to enhance biathlon shooting

Biathlon Shooting Training with SCATT-Simulator - Accuracy Shooting Training of Young Biathletes

performance it was necessary to focus the athletes’

attention on handling the trigger with coaching

verbal instructions (see “Coaching notes” in table 1.

And, what is more difficult, to keep their attention

concentrated throughout the long shooting round.

The SCATT shooting simulation training was

held individually in the evening. Shooting sessions

were athlete-friendly without emotional stress.

Simple shooting exercises (Table 1) were

selected for training. Exercises are easily done

regardless of a biathlete’s fatigue.

Measuring Methods. The shooting quantitative

indicators were used in our research for monitoring:

“Result” - as the average score, points and the length

parameter “L”, mm. For example, an elite shooter

has 45 mm as “L” parameter and 10,04 as “Result”

(average score) while an elite biathlete has 120 mm

as “L” parameter and 6-7 as “Result”.

We used a detailed analysis of the

“Coordination” graphs, firstly, for biathletes’ correct

visual shooting training and, secondly, for the

comparative analysis at the beginning and the end of

the experiment.

On the lines of the “Coordination” graph

(Figure 3) we marked point A at 0.3 sec (X-axis)

before the shots, point B (Y-axis) and point C on the

graph and 0.1 sec on X-axis crossing and monitored

the ABC segment. The ABC segment is called “a

shot follow-through” in biathlon,

According to N.V. Astafiev, 2007, aiming

accuracy is reduced in case of a sharp rise with the

weapon “leaving” the aiming point. The deviation of

more than 1.0 point during the 0.3 seconds before

the shot (segment AB) is enough for an inaccurate

shot. The BC segment indicates the continuation of

short-term fixed focus on retaining visual

concentration after the shot.

4 RESULTS

Novices’ Results in Biathlon Shooting. An

example of training progress in average aiming

trajectory of novices in shooting at the beginning

and end of the experiment is shown on

“Coordination” graphs (Figure 4).

In the first training session of our experiment the

novice in shooting had a low average result of 3

points on the Y axis and a shot follow-through was

weakly expressed (Figure 4, line 1). The shot

follow-through (segment A

) was unstable with

a break. The aiming coordination of novices in

shooting is very low, since it is difficult to keep a

rifle within the target. When the weapon leaves the

target zone SCATT software cannot determine the

aiming points’ location. It is the reason for breaks in

line 1.

At the end of the experiment line 2 (Figure 4)

within A

became smoother and closer to the

target centre by 2 points (B

). The novice has

noticeably improved the aiming technique of

biathlon shooting: the line of aiming is within the

target (within 4.5 from the target centre), it is stable

without breaks.

Table 1: Shooting simulator SCATT training exercises for biathletes in standing position.

№

Exercises and tasks description Exercises aims Coaching notes

Hold the aiming line within the target

during 3 minutes with the possibility of a

short rest.

The development of coordinated

actions in the "shooter-weapon"

system and coordination endurance.

The attention concentration

(mental determination)

should be maximal and

monitored by the shooter.

30 shots following the algorithm:

1. rough targeting;

2. holding breath;

3.precise aiming until a possible shot with

the prepressed trigger.

4.closing eyes with the intention to keep

the "shooter-weapon" system still;

count from 1 to 3 mentally.

5.opening eyes, adjusting aiming and

shooting.

Hasty shots prevention.

Specific static shooting adaptation.

The increase of the static load on the

vestibular apparatus.

Slow practising of the basic

shooting elements for future

automatization and speed.

Verbal support and feedback

is necessary: “Hold

concentration!”

Coach words: "See off every

shot!"

Individual analysis of shooting training. Explaining the causes of shooting

mistakes and determining objectives

for further shooting self-

improvement.

icSPORTS 2015 - International Congress on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support

Figure 4: “Coordination” graphs of the novice in shooting

(subject №3) at the beginning (line 1) and at the end

(line 2) of the experiment.

Novices in shooting (№ 1-3) in the first training

session of the experiment had “L” equal to 434 ± 39

mm. On the 21st day of the experimental training

after 6 workouts with SCATT novice №1 had a

significant improvement in “L” from 474 to 322

mm. The progress in “L” of other novices-subjects is

less marked.

During the research novice № 1 progressed from

2.0 to 5.5 in the “Result” parameter. Other novices

also achieved the goal demanded by biathlon – a

score of 4.5 points - in stressless conditions.

Results of Young qualified Biathletes with 3-5

Years of Biathlon Experience. An example of

training progress in aiming trajectory of young

qualified biathletes at the beginning and end of the

experiment is shown on “Coordination” graphs

(Figure 5).

Figure 5: “Coordination” graphs of young biathlete № 6 at

the beginning (line 1) and at the end (line 2) of the

experiment.

Before the research the young qualified biathlete

№6 with 5 years of biathlon experience had a

shooting pattern with errors – there was no follow-

through of shots after the moment of shot decision

(Figure 5, line 1). Such a shooting pattern with

errors would prevail under stress in competitions.

In the first training session the following

technical error of the shot follow-through was

revealed in subject № 6: the aiming curve of the

biathlete (Figure 5, line 1) showed a certain

tendency in the 0.5-0.2 seconds before the shots - it

was directed towards the centre of the target, but at

the last moment (0.2 seconds before the shot) the

weapon drifted away from the target thus reducing

the effectiveness of aiming. The result was 5 (C

and it was enough for biathlon standing shooting

(4.5 scores), but it was obtained in stressless

conditions of training. A shot follow-through was

not accentuated (B

) either, that is why our

prognoses about the success of biathlon shooting in

competition was not good and the subject needed to

correct the aiming technique.

At the end of the experiment the error in a shot

follow-through (Figure 5, line 2) was corrected: the

average curve of aiming after 0.2 seconds before the

shot became directed towards the target, weapons

remained at about 6, thus guaranteeing a successful

shot. The follow-through of shots became

intentionally extended up to 0.3 seconds after the

shot, the В

segment stayed horizontal. If you

compare curves 1 and 2 (Figure 5) you can see that

the shooting effectiveness increased (up to 0.8 in the

average score). This improvement also increases the

chances of accurate shooting under stressful

conditions during competitions.

In the first training session of the experiment

qualified biathletes (№ 4-11, Table 2) had 361 ± 60

mm of “L” (average length of the aiming trajectory).

The degree of shooting performance improvement is

individual but only № 9 had good progress of “L” at

the end of the experiment

By the 18th day of our experiment the subjects

showed their best shooting performance growth in

comparison with “L” at the beginning of the

experiment (№ 4, 5, 8, 10, 12 showed a decrease in

“L” of about 86, 19, 36, 30, 47 mm respectively).

The last training micro cycle of three days was

designed to be physically hard with increased power

load of cyclical nature.

Biathlon Shooting Training with SCATT-Simulator - Accuracy Shooting Training of Young Biathletes

Table 2: Dynamics of quantitative indicators of SCATT simulator in young biathletes (n = 12).

Participant’s №

the 1

day the 10

day the 18

day the 21

day

L, mm. Result,

score

L, mm Result,

score

L, mm Result,

score

L, mm Result,

score

1 474 2,0 391 4,2 425 1,9 322 5,5

2 448 1,9 569 2,4 484 3,9 462 3,0

3 380 3,0 329 2,4 330 3,2 326 5,0

4 391 4,5 319 4,0 305 4,6 410 4,9

5 486 2,5 416 3,0 467 3,6 497 3,2

6 354 5,0 282 5,3 353 5,8 359 4,3

7 288 4,7 364 4,4 406 5,0 497 3,9

8 328 2,9 345 4,9 292 5,3 305 4,2

9 368 3,6 276 4,7 310 5,2 295 5,4

10 309 5,1 301 4,1 279 4,8 290 4,8

11 404 3,9 385 2,7 427 3,3 447 3,5

12 323 5,0 312 5,2 276 4,2 286 4,2

In our opinion, the dynamics of “L” is too dependent

on the fatigue degree of the athlete’s central nervous

system. Training during 21 days is very demanding

for athletes. The decrease of “L” indicators in some

biathletes (subjects № 4, 7) by the last day of the

experiment can be explained by the athletes’ severe

fatigue and exhaustion. But such reductions are

temporary.

Qualified biathletes showed the growth of

average “Result” (Table 2). That is why obtaining

tangible contribution of SCATT shooting training in

qualified biathletes requires a longer monitoring

than three weeks of training sessions.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The work of SCATT shooting simulator, its main

parameters useful and necessary for biathlon

shooting teaching and monitoring were presented in

the article.

Three parameters of SCATT software: “Result”

of each shot and shooting round result, the “L”

parameter equal to the average length of the aiming

trajectory during 1 second before the shot and

“Coordination” graph which shows the aiming

trajectory were under consideration in our research

with young biathletes.

Biathlon shooting aiming research of athletes

with different qualifications revealed that

“Coordination” graphs provide shooting coaches

with more informative indicators for monitoring and

assessment of training process than average path

length “L”. The “L” parameter can be individually

deteriorated or remain unchanged for a long time

due to biathletes’ physical fatigue during the training

process.

The presented method of biathlon shooting skill

development proved to be effective and easy to use.

The following positive changes were observed in the

shooting technique due to SCATT simulator system:

stabilization and leveling of the “Coordination”

curve within 0.3 seconds before the shot with an

important for biathlon shot follow-through and 0.3

seconds after the shot in all subjects. The positive

changes in aiming parameters were more expressed

in novices. We consider that the biathletes at the

initial stage of shooting training should be taught

with SCATT shooting simulator.

The achieved changes in the shooting aiming

according to “Coordination” graphs of various level

athletes will be movement patterns (stereotypes) in

case of regular SCATT training. The modification of

the old (inefficient) stereotype requires high

attention concentration from an experienced athlete.

It is also necessary for the development of new

correct movement patterns in novices in shooting.

All training shooting files by SCATT software

should be kept for future monitoring and analysis of

“L” and “Result” parameters and “Coordination”

graphs.

The dynamics and timing of adaptive changes

induced by specific training loads in biathlon require

further research.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The work was supported by Act 211 Government of

the Russian Federation, contract № 02.A03.21.0006.

icSPORTS 2015 - International Congress on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support

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Biathlon Shooting Training with SCATT-Simulator - Accuracy Shooting Training of Young Biathletes