Modern Light Sport Training Systems:

“Co-Reaction” Neuromuscular Warm-Up

Anton Ezhov

1,2 a

and Anna Zakharova

Ural Federal University, 19 Mira street, Yekaterinburg, Russia

Hockey Academy Spartakovets, 31 Engelsa street, Yekaterinburg, Russia

Keywords: Light Sport Training System, Reaction Time, Team Sports, Warm-Up, Hand-Eye Coordination.

Abstract: Warm up is an irreplaceable part of sport training. Traditional pre-competition warm-up is fulfilled

automatically and therefore do not activate the brain in the way that is needed for excellent performance

especially in sprint or first minutes of team sports game. There is no objective assessment of the warming up

effectiveness and current state of the athlete. The aim of the study was twofold: to substantiate pre-competition

brain warm-up using modern light sport training systems and suggest the method of objective assessment of

warm-up efficiency in sport. The innovative Co-Reaction sports system, including the Blazepod

Trainer

with 6 sensors, the Blazepod

software installed on a smartphone or tablet with Co-Reaction add-ons, and

the Co-Reaction Desk, can provide rapid neuromuscular activation to athletes before competition. The results

of Co-Reaction (visual-motor two-colour reaction time) allow to assess a current state of an athlete during the

pre-competition warm-up. Comparison of the current result with the average earlies ones will give feedback

on the athlete readiness/unreadiness and sufficiency/insufficiency of the warm-up. The article presents

average data of Co-Reaction time and athletes' norms for different sport and Co-reaction results ages features

of ice-hockey players.

1 INTRODUCTION

The importance of warm-up in sport as a method of

physiological preparation for strenuous physical

activity is undeniable. General warm-up tasks are

temperature evaluation and movement range

improvement to enhance performance and reduce the

risk of injury.

Furthermore, warm-up can evoke neural and

psychology-related effects (Lutz et al., 2024). Brain

warm-up in sport is a new area of knowledge, although

in fitness industry there are smart fitness and neurobics

with exercises that are designed specifically for

training the human brain: developing and improving

memory, brain nutrition for improving performance

(Danilov, 2010, Breaker, 2011, Smith, 2021).

Team sports are very demanding for speed and

coordination of each teammate without exception.

Success in team sport competition largely depends on

the level of these abilities in players. Athlete’s speed

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0541-0650

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9550-1793

is born in their brain (Schonbrun, 2018, Smith, 2021,

Lienhard, 2019, Lienhard, 2021).

One can imagine the work of the nervous system

and the brain in the form of three consecutive stages:

a. receiving incoming signals from sensory

systems;

b. analysis of incoming info and

interpretation;

c. the generation of a response by movement

or other means.

Using light sport training systems in exercises

happens exactly according to this algorithm (incoming

info ̶ analysis ̶ response) only with higher intensity

due to quick flashes of colors in different places.

Pre-competition warm-up is vital for the optimal

performance (McGowan et al., 2015, Lutz et al.,

2024). But there are no objective methods to evaluate

pre-competition warm-up effectiveness. On one

hand, athletes and coach know what to do before the

competition, on the other hand, routine warm-up can

be ineffective or insufficient.

186

Ezhov, A. and Zakharova, A.

Modern Light Spor t Training Systems: “Co-Reaction” Neuromuscular Warm-Up.

DOI: 10.5220/0013712100003988

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support (icSPORTS 2025), pages 186-190

ISBN: 978-989-758-771-9; ISSN: 2184-3201

The scientific problem is how to activate the

athletes’ brain during pre-competition warm-up?

The aim of the research was twofold: to

substantiate pre-competition brain warm-up using

modern light sport training systems and suggest the

method of objective assessment of warm-up

efficiency in sport.

The method we propose accomplishes the

following tasks: not excluding, but complementing

the classical warm-up, it allows for neuromuscular

activation; obtain objective data on the current state

of the athlete's response speed and track the dynamics

of changes to adjust the process of pre-competition

warming-up.

2 METHODS

To provide the presentation of light sport system

method for neuromuscular acceleration three main

aspects were selected: description of device,

receiving data process and the way of data analysis.

2.1 Blazepod Sensors Description

The Blazepod™ (based on RGB LED-technology,

Bluetooth

technology) trainer (Israel, Thailand)

designed for diversification of sport training was

selected for our research. Cylinder-shaped Blazepod

sensors have 100 mm in diameter and 42 in height

(Ezhov et al., 2021). Thanks to their form sensors can

be located in the housing case or for charging one

after the other, slightly recessed into one another

(Figure 1).

Figure 1: Blazepod 6 sensors version.

2.2 Co-Reaction Method

For brain warm-up we developed a system that we

called Co-Reaction (Coordination + Reaction).

6 sensors were placed on the table according to a

scheme (Figure 2). The smartphone or tablet PC

according Blutooth

must have the Blazepod

program installed with our Co-reaction add-ons.

Figure 2: Co-Reaction sensors scheme.

Participants were instructed to deactivate the

target yellow light sensors as fast as possible with a

hand by soft touching. After starting the Co-reaction

program with the "GO" command two sensors of six

simultaniously were activated - the target color

(yellow) and the interference color (violet).

The smartphone records the deactivation time of

the target sensor and immediately (in 0.001 s)

activates the next pair of yellow and violet colours.

Next light sensors pair were activated randomly

during 30 seconds in a trial. The analysis concerned

the mean deactivation time (reaction time) of the

target sensor in Co-reaction test.

2.3 Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed with the use of

statistic software MS Excel. We used descriptive

analysis of the obtained data in order to estimate basic

functional status of athletes. Mean value (M),

standard deviation (SD), minimum and maximal

values of the measured parameters were calculated.

Co-Reaction as a test is a new technology with no

average data for athletes. To establish the levels of,

level criteria was calculated using the value of the

normal M and the deviation equal to ± 2/3 SD:

• Average level – the indicators in the range M ±

2/3 SD;

• Level above the average (Athlete’s norm) the

indicators are greater than M ˗ 2/3 SD.

3 RESULTS & DISCUSSION

3.1 How Co-Reaction Works

The impact of Co-Reaction on an athlete reacting to a

Modern Light Sport Training Systems: “Co-Reaction” Neuromuscular Warm-Up

187

bright flash of light with a quick and precise hand

movement has the following effects:

a. activates vision due to the high speed of eye

movement looking for target sensor;

b. activates the occipital lobe of the brain, which

is responsible for analyzing details such as clarity and

color;

c. activates the temporal lobe of the brain to

recognize active stimulus;

d. activates the parietal lobe of the brain to

determine the target stimulus;

e. activates the frontal lobe and cerebellum, which

are responsible for the accuracy of the impact on the

stimulus;

f. due to the high intensity of the exercise,

activation of the neuromuscular connections of the

“eye-brain-hand” is achieved.

3.2 Co-Reaction Desk Development

Carrying out the proto- Co-Reaction test revealed the

following problems:

a. the sensors shifted, changing the distance

between them and even flew off the table, thus caused

errors in the results;

b. the sensors turned over, which made it

impossible to deactivate the sensor;

c. sensors occasionally failed to work (were not

deactivated by hand blow) on a hard surface, thereby

increasing the response time.

Among the Blazepod

accessories there is no

option that would help to improve the above-

mentioned situation.

To solve these unpleasant problems, it was

proposed to use a desk with a fixed location of

sensors. Desk 600 х 600 mm was made of eva-

materials, with 6 conical holes Ø 95 mm.

Further development of the eva-desk made it

possible to make it foldable (Figure 3).

To improve actuation of Blazepod’s sensors

(problem c) one may use a 2-3 mm thick substrate or

soft plyoboxes. Vibration-absorbing materials of soft

plyobox sides significantly reduce the problem.

Co-Reaction desk making allowed us to provide

standard conditions for “hand-eye” coordination

(Zakharova et al., 2019).

3.3 Co-Reaction

The innovative Co-Reaction sports system includes

the Blazepod

Trainer with 6 sensors, the

Blazepod

software installed on a smartphone or

tablet with Co-Reaction add-ons, and the Co-

Reaction Desk.

Figure 3: Co-Reaction Desk.

The first stages of Co-Reaction use (Figure 4)

showed that this system fully complies with the

requirements of tests. Co-Reaction test is

standardized, reliable and valid.

Figure 4: Co-Reaction warm-up before official game.

3.4 Co-Reaction Results in Athletes

The creation of Co-Reaction test made possible to

form databases of visual-motor coordination in

groups of professional athletes and calculate mean

value and athlete’s norm in different kinds of sports

(Table 1). Professional athletes aged 19 to 35 took

Table 1: Co-Reaction results of professional athletes, ms

Sport M±SD min-max

Athlete’s

norm

Ice hockey

(

n=98

)

332±22 310 ̶ 355 <325

Football

(n=26)

440±24 414 ̶ 480 <420

Futsal

(n=14)

380±34 335 ̶ 405 <370

Сross-country

skiin

(

n=14

)

462±36 385 ̶ 502 <440

icSPORTS 2025 - 13th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support

188

part in the research. All athletes whose results are

listed in Table 1 have a high level of athletic skills and

are members of professional sports leagues.

Co-Reaction values of professional athletes

correspond to the specifics of team sports: team sport

players are quicker in reaction than cross-country

skiers. Next, hockey is the most demanding game

sport in terms of speed of response, and ice hockey

players are the fastest athletes in Co-Reaction.

To identify age-related characteristics of Co-

Reaction results, a research was carried out in ice

hockey sports schools as well as in regional ice-

hockey teams of all ages and professional league

teams in 2021-2025. Amateur ice-hockey athletes

40+ were represented by winners of the all-Russian

amateur competition NHL (Night Hockey League) in

2023 (Zakharova et al., 2023) and regional NHL

winners in 2024.

Co-Reaction age features in ice hockey players

from 14 years old till 35 revealed the gradual

improvement (Table 2) with ages.

Table 2: Co-Reaction age features in successful ice hockey

players, ms.

Age M±SD max-min

Athlete’s

norm

14 (n=169) 457±36

421-494

<430

15 -16 (n=217) 432±40

389-476

<410

17-19

(

107

)

416±24

392-440

<400

20 -35 (198) 332±22

310-355

<315

40+

(

)

433±41

392-475

<405

In takes 30 seconds to carry out Co-Reaction test

thus providing quick and objective assessment of the

speed of visual-motor coordination that can be

compared with the norm values in sport: age athlete’s

norm, teammates average or the athlete individual

average result.

As quick assessment of game situation and

adequate game decision are of great importance in

team sports athlete’s norm may be used for team sport

selection too.

Co-Reaction warm-up was carried out in

professional ice-hockey team of Continental Hockey

League throughout the season 2023/2024. This

longitude research in the professional ice-hockey

team revealed a positive pattern of Co-reaction:

increasing pace at the beginning of the season,

stabilization in the middle of the season and personal

best Co-reaction values in playoff games (Figure 5).

During 10 months the ice-hockey player with

stable athletic performance demonstrated stable

increasing Co-Reaction results, as depicted at figure

5, where on the top axis the game number were

represented.

Figure 5: Professional ice-hockey player's individual Co-

Reaction graph in competition season 2023/2024.

We consider that the improvement of Co-reaction

results is more related to improved athlete’s fitnes

than to addictiveness in terms of motion automation,

especially due to the random activation of pair of

sensors.

The warm-up with the use of Co-Reaсtion before

the official matches of both professional and youth

teams allowed to:

a. find out the insufficiency of warm-up: if the

demonstrated pre-competition Co-Reaction is worse

than the individual Co-Reaction data frames, then the

warm-up has not fulfilled its tasks, that is, the athlete

is not ready for the match and should activate himself

with additional exercises;

b. confirm the performance readiness by

personal excellent Co-Reaction result;

c. reduce pre-start anxiety according to the

athletes’ opinion thanks to the game form of Co-

Reaction warm-up.

In 80% the use of Co-Reaction warm-up led to a

quick score or effective action in the first 3 minutes

of the match.

Feedback from the athletes of the professional ice

hockey teams revealed that 75% of the players are

ready to use Co-Reaction daily during the warm-up

process, as they feel the real positive effect. The

similar position was supported by 90% of the coaches

interviewed.

All the above-mentioned positive outcomes of

using Co-Reaction in pre-competition warm-up prove

the possibilities as well as the effectiveness of Co-

Reaction in sport.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Theoretical and practical analysis of the warming-up

process in sport has shown the need for a cerebral

(neural, neuromuscular) warm-up in pre-competition

Modern Light Sport Training Systems: “Co-Reaction” Neuromuscular Warm-Up

189

training. The proposed Co-Reaction testing system

based on the modern light sport training system

Blazepod

has shown high efficiency in activating

the brain, which in addition to the standard warm-up

gives additional positive effect. Without interfering

with the traditional pre-competition warm-up Co-

Reaction neuromuscular warm-up provides several

benefits:

1. It activates the brain, thereby increasing the

excitation of the nervous system, which helps the

athlete to get involved in the game faster, namely, to

react quicker and more accurately to the sport game

situation.

2. It brings variety into the ordinary, sometimes

monotonous preparation for competition.

3. It helps relieve pre-competition jitters by

shifting focus to a game form task of Co-Reaction.

In addition to warming up the neuromuscular

system, Co-Reaction system provides visual,

objective information that can be used for operational

control by coaches and athletes.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher

Education of the Russian Federation (Ural Federal

University, the State Assignment № 075-03-2023-

006/13 (FEUZ–2023–0054).

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