The talent quest – comment on Baker & Wattie

Explaining exceptional human performance remains problematic. Baker & Wattie (2018) explored the value of innate talent as underlying cause for excellence in sports. Although the absence of the influence of biological genetic influences cannot be confirmed or rejected, it is recommended to discuss this topic while taking into account the time-depending sport-specific context. Moreover, if, as Baker & Wattie (2018) concluded, the concept of talent has limited utility to the world of sport, the use of the predicate ‘talent’ might better be reconsidered in practice

Prognostic Validity of Statistical Prediction Methods Used for Talent Identification in Youth Tennis Players Based on Motor Abilities

(1) Background: The search for talented young athletes is an important element of top-class sport. While performance profiles and suitable test tasks for talent identification have already been extensively investigated, there are few studies on statistical prediction methods for talent identification. Therefore, this long-term study examined the prognostic validity of four talent prediction methods. (2) Methods: Tennis players (N = 174; n♀ = 62 and n♂ = 112) at the age of eight years (U9) were examined using five physical fitness tests and four motor competence tests. Based on the test results, four predictions regarding the individual future performance were made for each participant using a linear recommendation score, a logistic regression, a discriminant analysis, and a neural network. These forecasts were then compared with the athletes’ achieved performance success at least four years later (U13‒U18). (3) Results: All four prediction methods showed a medium-to-high prognostic validity with respect to their forecasts. Their values of relative improvement over chance ranged from 0.447 (logistic regression) to 0.654 (tennis recommendation score). (4) Conclusions: However, the best results are only obtained by combining the non-linear method (neural network) with one of the linear methods. Nevertheless, 18.75% of later high-performance tennis players could not be predicted using any of the methods

Determinants for table tennis performance in Elite Scottish Youth players using a multidimensional approach:A pilot study

International audienceThe purpose of the study is to explore whether a multidimensional profiling approach can be useful in predicting a table tennis player's actual and future (one year later) performance. Data on anthropometrics, age from peak height velocity, motor-skills, psychological skills and training histories were gathered among Scottish elite youth male table tennis players (n = 14). Significant correlations emerged between: (a) actual performance rating and age from peak height velocity (r = .71), sprint test (r = -.69), number of years of practice (r = .84), positive refocusing (r = -.58), and self-regulation in learning - self-monitoring (r = -.60), and evaluation (r = .57); (b) performance rating one year later and positive refocusing (r = -.58), self-monitoring (r = -.50), and number of years of practice (r = .80). Results also showed significant correlations between progression scores (2017 rating score minus 2016 rating score) and age from peak height velocity (r = -0.77), sprint test (r = .63), number of years of practice (r = -.52), self-monitoring (r = .69), and evaluation (r = -.58). These results provided preliminary evidence for the usefulness of a multidimensional profiling approach for predicting performance and progression in youth table tennis players

MINI REVIEW: ASSESSING TECHNICAL SKILLS IN YOUTH ATHLETES USING SPORTS BIOMECHANICAL METHODS

Since technical skills are suggested to play a crucial role in talent identification and development (TID) programs, sports biomechanical assessment methods could gain in importance within this field. This systematic mini review provides a brief overview of the biomechanical approaches used so far to assess technical skills and the respective findings in the context of TID. Our results show that few studies have used biomechanical approaches to identify or develop talented young athletes but those doing so found promising results. On the basis of those studies and given the advancements in technologies, we discuss possible obstacles and the potential of biomechanical assessment methods for motion and technique analysis in the context of talent research

The relationship between sport-specific training and a perceptuo-motor skills assessment as part of talent identification in young table tennis players (8-10 years)

A perceptuo-motor skills assessment was developed to better estimate the potential of youth table tennis players (8-10 years). Sport-specific training experience might influence the outcomes of this assessment and hinder a fair interpretation. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the training experience (i.e. quantity and quality) and the perceptuo-motor skills assessment outcomes in youth table tennis players. For this purpose, data were collected during the national association’s talent days in the Netherlands (2010-2015). In total, 372 young table tennis players (8-10 years) were assessed by a perceptuo-motor skills questionnaire covering current training (hours/week), total training volume (hours) and quality of the trainer (high versus low). Non-parametric partial correlation analyses showed that training quantity outcomes (i.e. current training and training volume) are significantly associated with the test items of speed while dribbling, aiming at target and eye-hand coordination in both sexes with small to medium effect sizes. The multivariate GLM analyses revealed no significant differences between players receiving high versus low quality training regarding the perceptuo-motor skills assessment. The results indicated only a small transfer of skill and a substantial amount of task specificity; as such it seems legitimate to use the perceptuo-motor skills assessment as part of a talent identification programme. However, it seems sensible to take the training volume into account for a fair interpretation of the estimation of potential, especially when large differences exist between players regarding the training experience. Future studies using a longitudinal design could reveal more about the effect of training

The benefits of the 5-week Table Stars @school program as part of physical education in primary schools – A pilot intervention study

The Table Stars @school program was launched in 2010 to serve as a first introduction to table tennis in primary school children. The main aims of this pilot intervention study were 1. to evaluate the effect of Table Stars @school on the perceptuo-motor skills and selective attention in primary school children in comparison to regular physical education and 2. to find out how many and which children benefited more from Table Stars @school compared to regular physical education. A pilot intervention study was carried out including 177 children between 6 to 12 years from two regular primary schools. All children were tested by means of four perceptuo-motor tests (static balance, walking backwards, speed while dribbling, eye hand coordination) and a selective attention task (map mission). Both schools were exposed to both the Table Stars @school program and regular physical education in a different order. The results revealed no differences between the regular physical education classes and the Table Stars @school program on group level. However, both interventions showed different responders. Consequently, Table Stars @school seems to fit in as it meets the level of improvement of regular physical education classes and it can be of added value by addressing other children to improve perceptuo-motor skills and selective attention. Nevertheless, intensifying the program and/or integrating it into regular physical education is recommended to increase the effects and better add to the broader development of children

VPS13A: shining light on its localization and function

The rare neurodegenerative disease Chorea-Acanthocytosis (ChAc) is caused by mutations in the VPS13A gene leading to absence of the VPS13A protein in patients. Lack of VPS13A causes neuronal cell death and patients develop movement disorders. Currently, no treatment is available and patients die prematurely. Knowledge about de underlying disease mechanisms of ChAc is limited and here we aimed to gain more insight in the localization and function of VPS13A. For this we used fruit flies in which we knocked out the Vps13 gene in several ways, including the gene editing technique CRISPR/Cas9. Those flies can therefore serve as a model organism for the disease. Mutated flies had a shortened life span, developed motor problems and showed disturbances in protein homeostasis. In addition, those flies showed vacuoles in the brain characteristic for neurodegeneration. Next to a role for Vps13 in the central nervous system, it is also important in the ovaries of fruit flies in which the protein is enriched and is surrounding nuclei that need to be removed. Here Vps13 is required for proper and timely removal of those nuclei through the formation of a specific membrane structure. Using human cell lines we found that VPS13A binds to different cellular organelles and is important for establishing contact sites between different membranes. An increase in cellular lipid content caused relocalization of the protein. This thesis provides insights in the localization and function of VPS13A and contributes to the body of knowledge about the cellular processes in which VPS13A plays a role

Is the level of eye-hand coordination and executive functioning related to performance in para table tennis players? – An explorative study

The goal of this explorative study was to explore whether eye-hand coordination and executive functions (i.e. cognitive flexibility, attention control and information processing) are related to the performance level in para table tennis players. The data of 11 elite (age 15-54) and 11 non-elite para table tennis players (age 13-49) were analyzed. The results showed that the elite players performed better than the median norm values for cognitive flexibility and attention control while the non-elite players demonstrated slower information processing than the median norm values (p 1000 points scored ≥ 24 catches per 30 s in the eye hand coordination task, whereas the players with 1000 and < 1000 rating scores in the executive functions tests. The results present a first profile of para table tennis players regarding their eye-hand coordination and executive functions and the relationship of these constructs with the performance level. Long-term international cooperation is recommended to understand the value of the measured constructs to predict future successes