Anthropometry, physical performance, and motor coordination of medallist and non-medallist young fencers

Background and Study Aim: Fencing is a sport that relies on a complex intra play of numerous performance characteristics. Evaluation of these characteristics is important in the field of talent identification and talent development. Multidimensional test batteries have proven their value in different sports. The present study aimed to identify anthropometric, physical performance and motor coordination characteristics that discriminate medallist and non-medallist fencers. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 83 young fencers (21 national medallists, 62 non-medallist) between 11 and 16 years old were tested in 2010-2015 using a test battery consisting of four anthropometrical, nine physical performance and three motor coordination tests. The fencers were divided into two groups (medallist and non-medallist at national youth championships). First, descriptive analysis explained their general score (means) for anthropometric, physical performance and motor coordination. Second, MANCOVA (multivariate analysis of covariance) was used to explain to what extent the two groups were different from each other, taking into account the effect of maturity (age at peak height velocity - APHV) and calendar age (CA). Results: Generally, the results showed no differences between medallist and non-medallist fencers in anthropometry, physical performance and motor coordination. APHV significantly affected anthropometry and several strength, speed and explosivity variables. Chronological age affected nearly all indicators of anthropometry, physical performance, and motor coordination. MANCOVA, correcting for APHV and CA showed no significant difference for anthropometric, physical performances and motor coordination between medallist and non-medallist fencers. Conclusions: This study a shows a significant effect of APHV and chronological age in anthropometric, physical performance and motor coordination among young fencers. The possibility that only taking into account anthropometry, physical performance, and motor coordination of young fencers in the talent identification process is limited due to the complexity of fencing is discussed

Predicting judo champions and medallists using statistical modelling

Background and Study Aim: In the past decade, several studies have convincingly demonstrated that the identification of characteristics in young children can form a solid basis to identify those subjects with the most chance to excel at the international competition level. The present study aims to predict the performance of young male judo athletes with linear and non-linear predictive statistical models. It is hypothesized that a non-sport specific test battery will allocate athletes to their best achievement level at least three years past baseline. Material and Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 22 trained male Belgian judo athletes U14 (12.675 +/- 0.910 years) were tested in 2009-2011 using a generic test battery consisting of five anthropometrical, seven physical performance and three motor coordination tests. In 2016 they were allocated to one of three groups depending on their achievement level between 2013-2015. First, Kruskal-Wallis was used to discover indicators that significantly differ across the three groups sampled by achievements. Second, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was applied to discriminate the participants and allocate them to their respective achievement level. Results: The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences for three indicators (sitting height, weight, Body Mass Index). Using all indicators, discriminant analysis correctly classified 95.5% of the participants. Only 36.4% of cross-validated grouped cases were correctly classified based on all indicators. Therefore, a sequential discriminant analysis, containing the significant tests (three indicators) was applied to improve the cross-validated model from 36.4% to 59.1%. Using all indicators makes the model stronger but using a limited number of indicators makes it easier to assign athletes to the right group. Conclusions: Generic talent characteristics (anthropometry) included in the present study allow for a successful discrimination between drop out, sub-elite and elite judo athletes. In addition to the trainer's opinion and the individual screening of judo specific performance characteristics, this generic test battery provides opportunities for predicting judo performance of young athletes

A coaches’ perspective on the contribution of anthropometry, physical performance, and motor coordination in racquet sports

Differences and similarities between table tennis and other racquet sports exist, but are not well documented in the literature, in spite of the relevance for talent identification. In this study we aimed at identifying the key characteristics of table tennis in comparison with tennis and badminton based upon a survey in coaches. A total of 177 licensed coaches from all across the world and with diverse professional backgrounds completed a survey on anthropometric measures, physical performance, and motor coordination skills. On a scale from 1 to 10, coaches indicated to what extent a talent characteristic was important for their sport. MANOVA identified key differences as well as similarities between all three racquet sports and a subsequent discriminant analysis allocated coaches correctly for table tennis, tennis, and badminton 81.01%, 55.6%, and 71.4% respectively. Our results show that table tennis and other racquet sport coaches are well aware of differences between the racquet sports and also the importance and value of testing and assortment of skill components. These findings can assist coaches in future talent orientation and transfer in racquet sports

Educación, muerte, sentido

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A retrospective analysis of the national youth teams in volleyball : were they always faster, taller, and stronger?

Although there are numerous studies comparing the characteristics of young and adult volleyball players of different levels, it remains unclear to what extent these findings can be used for performance prediction because very few are based on longitudinal or retrospective analyses. The aim of the current retrospective study was to test to what extent anthropometry, physical performance, and motor coordination can predict future selection in national youth teams. From 2012 to 2015, 1738 10- to 13-year-old boys and girls who played volleyball completed 3 anthropometric, 4 physical performance, and 3 motor coordination tests. In January 2020, 52 athletes of this sample were found to be part of one of the national youth teams of Belgium. A multivariate analysis of covariance, discriminant analyses, and logistic regression analyses were conducted to compare the test results of the selected vs. the nonselected players. Significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results showed that the selected players were already taller and showed better jumping performance, and for females, they tended to have better motor coordination at the time of baseline measurement. Therefore, it seems important to focus on the development of motor coordination and jumping performance at young ages because superiority in these characteristics increases the chances to be selected for the national team 4–8 years later. Nevertheless, considering the large variation in results, selection cannot be made based on these characteristics alone. The practical implications for coaches and federations with respect to training and talent detection are discussed

Anthropometry, physical fitness and coordination of young figure skaters of different levels

The aim of the present study was to identify anthropometric, physical, coordinative and ice-skating specific characteristics that discriminate young elite ice skaters from non-elite skaters and their non-skating peers. 32 skaters aged 9-12 years old (11 elites and 21 non-elites) voluntarily participated in the study. They were submitted to 5 anthropometric, 7 physical, 3 coordination and 5 ice-skating specific tests. Reference values of a representative healthy non-skating sample were taken from the Flemish Sports Compass dataset. Figure skaters appeared to be predominantly average mature (93.8%), were lighter and leaner than the reference sample, and demonstrated better physical characteristics and motor coordination. There was no difference between the elite and non-elite group regarding maturity status and anthropometric or physical parameters. Still, elite skaters scored better than non-elites on the coordination tests jumping sideways and tended to do so on the moving sideways test. Profiles of figure skaters differ clearly from a reference population, while non-sport-specific motor coordination tests allow discrimination between elite and non-elite skaters. The relevance of these findings with respect to talent detection and identification in young ice skaters are discussed

The importance of performance in youth competitions as an indicator of future success in cycling

In sports, outperforming your peers at young age does not guarantee a professional sports career as an adult. To gain more insight in how performance in youth cycling competitions can be an indicator for future success, the current study (a) examined differences in success rate between future achievers and future non-achievers, (b) investigated whether the relative age effect affects these career pathways and (c) explored to what extent youth competitive performance can predict success at adult age. The sample consisted of 307 male road cyclists who achieved at least one top 10 result during national and provincial youth competitions (U15, U17, U19). Thirty-two were classified as future achievers because they reached senior elite level; the remaining 275 were classed as future non-achievers. Non-parametric analyses of longitudinal data, Kruskal-Wallis and logistic regressions were applied. These analyses revealed that the future achievers started to outperform the future non-achievers from U17 onwards. While the relatively older cyclists have an advantage over other cyclists in U15, this effect was smaller in U17 and was absent in U19. Finally, the competitive success rate of U15 cyclists could not predict success at adult age. However, for U17 and U19 cyclists each additional top 10 result was associated with 3-5%, and 6% higher chance to reach elite level at adult age, respectively. Overall, these results demonstrate that estimating potential based on competition results is unpredictable in the U15 category, however, may provide a better indication of future success from U17 onwards

Discriminating performance profiles of cycling disciplines

The aim of this study was to document the athletic profiles of adolescent and young adult high performance cycling athletes and to investigate to what extent different cycling disciplines can be discriminated from each other based on a generic test battery. A total of 243 adolescent (12.0- 15.99 y) and 63 young adult (>=16 y) male cyclists from road cycling, track cycling, cyclo-cross, and mountain bike (MTB) participated in the study. All participants performed four anthropometric, five physical, three motor coordination, and two cycling-specific tests. Using discriminant analyses, the young adult athletes could be correctly classified to their discipline for 80.7%. Track cyclists outperformed the other disciplines in explosive and coordinative skills while for cyclo-cross, and particularly MTB, the performance on the shuttle bike test seemed to be a distinctive variable. Road cyclists however, showed a significant overlap in performance characteristics with the other disciplines. In spite of the less pronounced discriminative character in the adolescent cycling population (51.0%), the discriminative characteristics are in line with the results of the young adults. This study allows to orient cyclists towards their best-fitted discipline in young adulthood. The relevance of these findings for coaches, experts and federations with respect to early/late specialization, and talent orientation are discussed

Validation of a Motor Competence Assessment Tool for Children and Adolescents (KTK3+) with normative values for 6- to 19-year-olds

The use of the short form of the Korperkoordinationstest fur Kinder (KTK3) to evaluate children's and adolescents' motor competence (MC) is increasing. When combined with an alternating one-handed catching and throwing ball task, assessing eye-hand coordination (EHC), it has been shown that the different aspects of motor skills are adequately covered in one compact KTK3+ test battery, studied in 6- to 10-year-old children. The present study aimed to validate the KTK3+ test battery and to provide contemporary MC normative values for boys and girls from 6- to 19-year-olds. A total of 2,271 children and adolescents (1,112 boys, 1,159 girls) participated in this study and were evaluated on the four included test items: jumping sideways (JS), moving sideways (MS), balancing backwards (BB), supplemented by an EHC task. Children's participation in organised sport was registered using a demographic questionnaire. For the first objective, a factor analysis with multidimensional scaling demonstrated that the one-dimensional model provided the best fit, with all test items correlating to the same latent construct: "MC". This was further supported with moderate to good correlations between all four test items (r = 0.453-0.799). Construct validity was investigated with a three-way MANOVA, demonstrating a significant multivariate interaction effect between sex and age group (p = 0.001) as well as a multivariate main effect of sex, age group, and organised sport participation (p < 0.001). Boys outperformed girls on two out of the four tests (JS and EHC, p < 0.005), while girls were better than boys on the BB test (p < 0.005). Performance scores increased across age groups on all tests (p < 0.001). Only for the BB test score, a plateau effect was noted around the age of 12 years. Children and adolescents participating in sports generally outperformed their peers who were not involved in organised sports, on the present KTK3+ test battery. For the second objective, raw score normative values are provided separately for both sexes between 6- to 19-year-olds. In combination with the one-factor structure confirmation, these sex, age, and sport participation effects demonstrate the validity of the test battery. The provided normative values are useful to evaluate MC in children and adolescents from 6 to 19 years old. The use of only four test items that are identical across all ages makes the KTK3+ test battery a practical instrument to assess and compare MC development