“You can take a break”Hänninen, Henri Eemeli (Avtor) Kalaja, Sami (Avtor) Kalaja, Teppo (Avtor) Vuoriainen, Antti (Avtor) Rinnevuori, Mikko (Avtor) Haapasalo, Leo (Avtor) sportphysical educationhand-balancinghandstandbloc periodizationskill acquisitiongymnasticsThe purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a 12-week periodized skill training plan, which included a 2-week break from specific training, on handstand skill acquisition. While motor skills can be relatively permanent under certain conditions, physical strength tends to decline more rapidly over time. Therefore, successful periodization of physically demanding motor skill training requires properly planned maintenance of physical prerequisites, particularly those with faster decay rates. The average handstand balancing time across three groups (n = 41) increased from 1.94 ± 4.40 seconds to 6.46 ± 7.88 seconds. Additionally, qualitative handstand form (scored on a scale of 1–3) improved from 0.80 ± 0.95 to 1.56 ± 0.59 (p < 0.001). Progress in handstand balancing time was statistically significant for all groups. Qualitative improvements in handstand form were statistically significant in both groups that included a training break (p = 0.011 and p = 0.001), but not in the handstand-only group (p = 0.059). Initial upper body pushing strength correlated significantly with improvements in handstand balancing time (r = 0.537, p = 0.021), but not with improvements in handstand form (r = -0.002, p = 0.503). The main findings of the present study suggest that a logically designed periodization plan for motor skill acquisition can accommodate breaks from specific skill training without disrupting learning, provided that the physical prerequisites with higher decay rates are maintained or trained during the break. These results are promising and warrant further research on the topic.20252026-06-17 14:53:48Članek v reviji183712UDK: 796.41ISSN pri članku: 1855-7171DOI: 10.52165/sgj.17.2.259-271COBISS_ID: 260484611slPodatek o licenci CC BY-SA 4.0 je naveden na pristajalni strani članka (glej zgoraj izvorni URL). (Datum opombe: 19. 6. 2026)