Theoretical-methodological foundations of tactical preparation in the coxless four: perspectives for the Cuban context
Keywords:
sports tactics; rowing; coxless four; pacing; ecological-dynamic approach; Cuban trainingAbstract
Tactical preparation in rowing is an essential component of competitive performance that has been historically underestimated in favor of physiological and technical determinants. This article aims to systematize the theoretical-methodological foundations that support tactical preparation in cyclic sports, with emphasis on rowing and the coxless four (4-) event, in response to the demands of the Cuban sports context. To this end, a systematic bibliographic review of the main theories on pacing, tactical decision-making, motor control, and collective tactical preparation is carried out, integrating classical approaches and recently developed ecological-dynamic perspectives. The results show that tactics in the 4- emerge from the interaction between physical-technical, interactive-motor, and contextual dimensions of the competitive environment, and cannot be reduced to pre-established pacing plans. It is argued that the uncritical transfer of foreign models to the Cuban context leads to partial interpretations; therefore, methodological principles of low technological dependency are proposed, based on systematic observation, praxical communication, and scenario simulation. It is concluded that adopting an ecological-dynamic approach constitutes the most relevant framework for grounding a collective tactical preparation methodology in the youth 4- of Pinar del Río.
Downloads
References
Abbiss, C. R., & Laursen, P. B. (2008). Describing and understanding pacing strategies during athletic competition. Sports Medicine, 38(3), 239-252.
Aksović, N., Bjelica, B., Milanović, F., Jovanović, N., & Zelenović, M. (2025). Movement competency in rowing: The key to an effective stroke. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 7, 1601563.
Araújo, D., Davids, K., & Hristovski, R. (2006). The ecological dynamics of decision making in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 7(6), 653-676.
Brown, M. R., Delau, S., & Desgorces, F. D. (2005). An analysis of the pacing strategy adopted by elite competitors in 2000 m rowing. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 39(1), 39-42.
Buekers, M., Montagne, G., & Ibáñez-Gijón, J. (2019). Strategy and tactics in sports from an ecological-dynamical perspective: What is in there for coaches and players? Movement & Sport Sciences, (106), 1-11.
Casado, A., & Renfree, A. (2018). Fortune favors the brave: Tactical behaviors in the middle-distance running events at the 2017 IAAF World Championships. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13(10), 1331-1337.
Cerasola, D., et al. (2018). Race profiles of rowers during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(7), 2055-2060.
Degutis, M., & Franklin, B. (2023). Rowing technical guide for coxless four. World Rowing.
Dodd, C. (1992). The story of world rowing. Stanley Paul.
Foster, C., Schrager, M., Snyder, A. C., & Thompson, N. N. (1994). Pacing strategy and athletic performance. Sports Medicine, 17(2), 77-85.
Gréhaigne, J. F., Wallian, N., & Godbout, P. (2005). Caracterización funcional de la táctica deportiva. Propuesta de clasificación de los deportes. Apunts. Educación Física y Deportes, (82), 36-44.
Hagerman, F. C. (1984). Applied physiology of rowing. Sports Medicine, 1(4), 303-326.
Held, S. (2021). Advances in performance testing and training in competitive rowing: From the lab to the field [Tesis doctoral]. German Sport University Cologne.
Hettinga, F. J., Renfree, A., Pageaux, B., & Jones, H. S. (2017). Regulation of endurance performance: New frontiers. Frontiers in Physiology, 8, 727.
Pezzoli, A., et al. (2010). Wind meteorological characterization of the Rowing Olympic site of the 2009 World Rowing Championship. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Renfree, A., Martin, L., Micklewright, D., & St Clair Gibson, A. (2014). Application of decision-making theory to the regulation of muscular work rate during self-paced competitive endurance activity. Sports Medicine, 44(2), 123-131.
Renfree, A., & Hanley, B. (2021). Pacing: From laboratory to practice. In The Science and Practice of Middle and Long Distance Running (pp. 15-30). Routledge.
Riera, J. (1995). Estrategia, táctica y técnica deportivas. Apunts. Educación Física y Deportes, (39), 45-56.
Ulmer, H.-V. (1996). Concept of an extracellular regulation of muscular metabolic rate during heavy exercise in humans by psychophysiological feedback. Experientia, 52(5), 416-420.
Verkhoshansky, Y. V. (2002). Teoría y metodología del entrenamiento deportivo. Paidotribo.
World Rowing. (2024). World Rowing Rankings and Olympic History. https://www.worldrowing.com
Zaleta-Morales, L., Ruíz-Campos, V. B., & Blanco-del Valle, A. (2023). Programa de acondicionamiento físico para la mejorar la fuerza en mujeres de 30 a 39 años en Ciudad del Carmen, México. Revista Transdiciplinaria De Estudios Sociales Y Tecnológicos, 3(1), 74–79. https://doi.org/10.58594/rtest.v3i1.65
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista científica Olimpia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
