Studia Kinanthropologica 2020, 21(2):103-111

Classification of heptathlon by the methods of hierarchical clustering

J. Broďáni*, N. Dvořáčková - Kováčová, M. Czaková
Katedra telesnej výchovy a športu, PF UKF Nitra, Slovensko

Authors deals with the problematics of group classification of athletics disciplines, which influence the sports performance in the women's heptathlon. For the group identification, the indicators of the best world's performance in heptathlon above the 6200 points according to the data from IAAF (N = 172) were used. From the classification methods of clustering the hierarchical models as the Average linkage (Between & Within-group), Single Linkage - Nearest neighbor, Complete Linkage - Farthest neighbor, Centroid linkage, Median clustering, and Ward's method were used.

All seven clustering methods agreed in two groups of clusters and in the content of disciplines in 2 clusters [200 meters, Long jump, 800 meters, 100 meters hurdles, High jump] [Shot put, Javelin throw]. The stability test with the cluster structure of heptathlon in the level of the second cluster is 100 %. The highest stability, 42,86 %, shows the internal hierarchy of disciplines [200 meters, Long jump, 100 meters hurdles, High jump, 800 meters] [Shot put, Javelin throw].

Hierarchical models allow identifying groups of athletics disciplines that influence the sports performance in women's heptathlon. Understanding the structure of sports performance contributes to the streamlining the training process and determining the combined events typology of world performance athletes.

Keywords: heptathlon; women; cluster analysis

Published: September 30, 2020  Show citation

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Broďáni J, Dvořáčková - Kováčová N, Czaková M. Classification of heptathlon by the methods of hierarchical clustering. Studia Kinanthropologica. 2020;21(2):103-111.
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