Risks and Benefits of Youth Sport Specialization: Perspectives and Recommendations

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenny D. Wiersma
Keyword(s):  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Youth Sport ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Performance Potential ◽  
High Intensity Training ◽  
Motor Skill Acquisition ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Intensity Training

Of growing concern to sport researchers is the practice of youth sport athletes specializing in sport at a young age. Sport specialization is characterized by year-round training in a single sport at the exclusion of other sport or nonsport activities. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential benefits of specialized sport at an early age in light of the potential risks associated with specialized participation. Three areas of consideration are discussed, including motor skill acquisition and performance, potential sociological consequences, and psychological concerns related to high-intensity training of young athletes. Finally, recommendations for further research and practical considerations are suggested for deciding the appropriateness of specialized sport in the training and development of youth sport athletes.

Effect of 2-wk intensified training and inactivity on muscle Na+-K+ pump expression, phospholemman (FXYD1) phosphorylation, and performance in soccer players

2010 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 898-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Thomassen ◽  
Peter M. Christensen ◽  
Thomas P. Gunnarsson ◽  
Lars Nybo ◽  
Jens Bangsbo
Keyword(s):  
Test Performance ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Short Term ◽  
High Intensity Training ◽  
Muscle Adaptations ◽  
Isoform Expression ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Level 2 ◽  
Intensity Training

The present study examined muscle adaptations and alterations in performance of highly trained soccer players with intensified training or training cessation. Eighteen elite soccer players were, for a 2-wk period, assigned to either a group that performed high-intensity training with a reduction in the amount of training (HI, n = 7), or an inactivity group without training (IN, n = 11). HI improved ( P < 0.05) performance of the 4th, 6th, and 10th sprint in a repeated 20-m sprint test, and IN reduced ( P < 0.05) performance in the 5th to the 10th sprints after the 2-wk intervention period. In addition, the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 2 test performance of IN was lowered from 845 ± 48 to 654 ± 30 m. In HI, the protein expression of the Na+-K+ pump α2-isoform was 15% higher ( P < 0.05) after the intervention period, whereas no changes were observed in α1- and β1-isoform expression. In IN, Na+-K+ pump expression was not changed. In HI, the FXYD1ser68-to-FXYD1 ratio was 27% higher ( P < 0.01) after the intervention period, and, in IN, the AB_FXYD1ser68 signal was 18% lower ( P < 0.05) after inactivity. The change in FXYD1ser68-to-FXYD1 ratio was correlated ( r2 = 0.35; P < 0.05) with change in performance in repeated sprint test. The present data suggest that short-term intensified training, even for trained soccer players, can increase muscle Na+-K+ pump α2-isoform expression, and that cessation of training for 2 wk does not affect the expression of Na+-K+ pump isoforms. Resting phosphorylation status of the Na+-K+ pump is changed by training and inactivity and may play a role in performance during repeated, intense exercise.

Give the Bench the Boot! Using Manning Theory to Design Youth-Sport Programs

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad Hill ◽  
B. Christine Green
Keyword(s):  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Youth Sport ◽  
Social Climate ◽  
Sport Organizations ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Sport Programs

Modified children’s sport programs are intended to increase opportunities for participation, skill acquisition, satisfaction, and enjoyment. Unfortunately, teams in modified programs sometimes consist of more players than can participate at any one time. Barker and Gump’s (1964) manning theory is used to analyze the effects of a modified children’s soccer program that excludes children from game participation by relegating them to the role of substitutes. Participant observation and interviews with coaches, parents, and players were conducted over 2 seasons. Findings are consistent with propositions from manning theory. Children’s teams provide a better social climate, more skill development, and greater enjoyment and satisfaction when teams are not allocated substitutes. These advantages are not reduced, and are sometimes elevated, when teams must sometimes play short handed. Administrative concerns about the potential risks of fielding teams without substitutes are found to be unwarranted, and the presence of substitutes restricts opportunities for youth-sport organizations to attract and retain members. These findings suggest a framework for the design and maintenance of modified children’s sport.

scholarly journals Toward training surgeons with motion-based feedback: Initial validation of smoothness as a measure of motor learning

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 1531-1535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivam Pandey ◽  
Michael D. Byrne ◽  
William H. Jantscher ◽  
Marcia K. O’Malley ◽  
Priyanshu Agarwal
Keyword(s):  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Subsequent Work ◽  
Motor Skill Acquisition ◽  
Movement Smoothness ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Multiple Domains ◽  
Open Question ◽  
The Relationship

Surgery is a challenging domain for motor skill acquisition. A critical contributing factor in this difficulty is that feedback is often delayed from performance and qualitative in nature. Collection of highdensity motion information may offer a solution. Metrics derived from this motion capture, in particular indices of movement smoothness, have been shown to correlate with task outcomes in multiple domains, including endovascular surgery. The open question is whether providing feedback based on these metrics can be used to accelerate learning. In pursuit of that goal, we examined the relationship between a motion metric that is computationally simple to compute—spectral arc length—and performance on a simple but challenging motor task, mirror tracing. We were able to replicate previous results showing that movement smoothness measures are linked to overall performance, and now have performance thresholds to use in subsequent work on using these metrics for training.

A Carbohydrate Ingestion Intervention in an Elite Athlete Who Follows a Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 957-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Webster ◽  
Jeroen Swart ◽  
Timothy D. Noakes ◽  
James A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
High Intensity ◽  
Time Trial ◽  
Endurance Performance ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Carbohydrate Ingestion ◽  
High Intensity Training ◽  
Low Carbohydrate ◽  
Elite Level ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Intensity Training

This case study documents the performance of an elite-level, exceptionally well-fat-adapted endurance athlete as he reintroduced carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion during high-intensity training. He had followed a strict low-CHO high-fat (LCHF) diet for 2 y, during which he ate approximately 80 g of CHO per day and trained and raced while ingesting only water. While following this diet, he earned numerous podium finishes in triathlons of various distances. However, he approached the authors to test whether CHO supplementation during exercise would further increase his high-intensity performance without affecting his fat adaptation. This 7-wk n = 1 investigation included a 4-wk habitual LCHF diet phase during which he drank only water during training and performance trials and a 3-wk habitual diet plus CHO ingestion phase (LCHF + CHO) during which he followed his usual LCHF diet but ingested 60 g/h CHO during 8 high-intensity training sessions and performance trials. After each phase, rates of fat oxidation and 30-s sprint, 4-min sprint, 20-km time trial (TT), and 100-km TT performances were measured. Compared with LCHF, 20-km TT time improved by 2.8% after LCHF + CHO, which would be a large difference in competition. There was no change in 30-s sprint power, a small improvement in 4-min sprint power (1.6%), and a small reduction in 100-km TT time (1.1%). The authors conclude that CHO ingestion during exercise was likely beneficial for this fat-adapted athlete during high-intensity endurance-type exercise (4–30 min) but likely did not benefit his short-sprint or prolonged endurance performance.

Electromyographic Biofeedback for Tension Control during Gross Motor Skill Acquisition

1978 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 883-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen N. French
Keyword(s):  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Motor Skill ◽  
Tension Control ◽  
Biofeedback Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Motor Skill Acquisition ◽  
Electromyographic Biofeedback ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
And Performance

This study investigated the effects of tension-control training by electromyographic biofeedback on learning and performance of a stabilometer balancing task. 30 young adult males were pretested for stabilometer balancing skill, ranked by performance scores, and divided into identical triplicates to form two experimental groups and a control group. All subjects were reevaluated on the stabilometer test following feedback training of the experimental subjects. Analysis of variance of difference means, scores representing performance and tension, indicated that the biofeedback training significantly reduced tension induced by the novel motor skill and significantly improved performance of the motor skill.

Motor skill acquisition in a virtual world by older adults: Relationships between age, physical activity, and performance

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 2084-2088
Author(s):  
Landon LaPorte ◽  
Anne Collins McLaughlin ◽  
Laura A. Whitlock ◽  
Maribeth Gandy ◽  
Amanda K. Trujillo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Motor Skill ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Motor Skill Acquisition ◽  
And Performance

Profiling the Training Practices and Performance of Elite Rowers

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 572-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Tran ◽  
Anthony J. Rice ◽  
Luana C. Main ◽  
Paul B. Gastin
Keyword(s):  
Phase 1 ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Training Time ◽  
High Intensity Training ◽  
Rowing Performance ◽  
External Frequency ◽  
Elite Rowers ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Intensity Training

Purpose:To investigate changes in physiology, performance, and training practices of elite Australian rowers over 6 mo.Methods:Twenty-one elite rowers (14 male, 7 female) were monitored throughout 2 phases: phase 1 (specific preparation) and phase 2 (domestic competition). Incremental tests and rowing-ergometer time trials over 100, 500, 2000, and 6000 m were conducted at the start of the season, midseason, and late season. Weekly external (frequency, duration, distance rowed) and internal (T2minute method) loads are reported.Results:Heavyweight male rowers achieved moderate improvements in VO2max and power at VO2max. Most other changes in physiology and performance were small or unclear. External loads decreased from phase 1 to phase 2 (duration 19.3 to 18.0 h/wk, distance rowed 140 to 125 km/wk, respectively). Conversely, internal loads increased (phase 1 = 19.0 T2hours, phase 2 = 20.3 T2hours). Low-intensity training predominated (~80% of training hours at T1 and T2), and high-intensity training was greater in phase 2. Training was rowing-focused (68% of training duration), although 32% of training time was spent in nonspecific modes. The distribution of specificity was not different between phases.Conclusion:Physiology and performance results were stable over the 6-mo period. Training-load patterns differed depending on the measure, highlighting the importance of monitoring both external and internal loads. The distribution of intensity was somewhat polarized, and substantial volumes of nonspecific training were undertaken. Experimental studies should investigate the effects of different distributions of intensity and specificity on rowing performance.

scholarly journals Emergence of perceptuomotor relationships during paleolithic stone toolmaking learning: intersections of observation and practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristel Yu Tiamco Bayani ◽  
Nikhilesh Natraj ◽  
Nada Khresdish ◽  
Justin Pargeter ◽  
Dietrich Stout ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Motor Skill ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Action Observation ◽  
Performance Improvements ◽  
Motor Skill Acquisition ◽  
Gaze Patterns ◽  
Archeological Evidence ◽  
And Performance

AbstractStone toolmaking is a human motor skill which provides the earliest archeological evidence motor skill and social learning. Intentionally shaping a stone into a functional tool relies on the interaction of action observation and practice to support motor skill acquisition. The emergence of adaptive and efficient visuomotor processes during motor learning of such a novel motor skill requiring complex semantic understanding, like stone toolmaking, is not understood. Through the examination of eye movements and motor skill, the current study sought to evaluate the changes and relationship in perceptuomotor processes during motor learning and performance over 90 h of training. Participants’ gaze and motor performance were assessed before, during and following training. Gaze patterns reveal a transition from initially high gaze variability during initial observation to lower gaze variability after training. Perceptual changes were strongly associated with motor performance improvements suggesting a coupling of perceptual and motor processes during motor learning.

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