The use of individual sports profiles of child athletes and nonathletes in recommending sports to be practiced

Abstract

Introduction: The issue of talent selection and identification has been addressed by a variety of authors. However, few studies focus on sports recommended to be practiced by children on the basis of evaluating their performance or sports profiles. Material and Methods: The purpose of the study was to determine individual sports profiles of child athletes and nonathletes and recommend sports to be practiced. The participants were children aged 6 and 7 years who were first graders at elementary schools. Child athletes were children who participated in organized sports practice in soccer (n = 16), ice hockey (n = 29), and artistic gymnastics (n = 10). Child nonathletes (n = 26) did not participate in any organized sports practice within extracurricular activities or in sports clubs. Children performed a battery of 9 tests: sit-and-reach test, flexed arm hang (overhand grip), repeated routine with a stick, sit-ups, standing long jump, 4 x 10-meter shuttle run, rolling of three balls, 20-meter sprint and endurance shuttle run. To assess decision-making processes, children played a chasing game called "pull-the-flag" game. Results: As for the match between the sports practiced and the sports recommended to be practiced by child athletes, 20 children practiced the sports that were also recommended to be practiced on the basis of their individual sports profiles. According to their sports profiles, child nonathletes were recommended to do, in particular, rhythmic gymnastics, cycling, volleyball, tennis, and floorball. Conclusions: We may conclude that low number of children practice sports that match children’s motor dispositions. Therefore, individual sports profiles need to be devised to provide children with recommendations concerning sports that match their talent.