Adapting Sports for the Younger Performer
Introduction
Many kids want to be famous athletes when they are young and will work towards that faraway goal depending on how long their desire persists. Some will realize the hard work and dedication that is required is too much and will seek an easier or different course in life to follow. Others will try even harder, but only a select few will find that they possess the skills to transcend to the next level of competition. For all young performers that compete it is important to recognize that kids are not to be treated as adults despite their interest in sports. Through recognition of lifespan motor development it is possible to adapt sporting activities to the proper levels for young athletes.
Going back to the idea that kids are not to be treated as adults opens up a variety of issues that can be traced back to the pressure and subsequent stressors that are placed upon children when engaging in sports (Kepcija & Johnson, 2009, p. 5). More than the idea of sportsmanship and talent are the developmental issues that take place in the early placement of youths into sports programs (Snow, 2012, p. 8). Using soccer as an example, offers a great range of discussion that focuses upon lifespan motor development and how it can affect children. (Twist & Hutton, 2007). The understanding of motor skills and how they develop is a far more complex process than many care to think about, and can help determine how future events will be shaped by the development of an individual’s motor skills (Metcalfe & Clark, 2002, 3).
Identify the Selected Key Concepts
In order to adapt any sport to the needs of a younger performer it is necessary to
understand why such a precaution must be taken into account (Lloyd & Oliver, 2013). In the
world of sports, in this case soccer, there are many demands placed upon athletes through
physical, mental, and emotional means. As it has already been stated and will continue to be, children are not small adults. They must be catered to in a manner that not only reflects their age level but also the level of development in which they currently reside (Jurimae & Jurimae, 2001). A child cannot be expected to perform at the same level as an adult without overstressing their body and mind (Bompa & Carrera, 2013). In this light sports must adapt at different levels to accommodate younger athletes.
For instance, a good example would be the game of soccer as there are many physically demanding aspects that could cause great stress and strain upon a developing athlete. The mental aspect of it, the need to compete, to excel, and to overcome one’s opponent is a factor that places another demand upon the athlete. Added onto this is the emotional aspect that comes when a win is anticipated and desired. All three components, physicality, mentality, and the emotional impact are key concepts that can factor into how and why soccer needs to be adapted to the athlete at different levels of development.
Looking at the core concepts typically present in the development of movement at the
younger levels, it is vital to take into account how younger children move in comparison with
older children and adults. Motor development through the lifespan is on average rudimentary at
younger ages and does not become fundamentally sound or rooted in sports-oriented movements
until around age 7, perhaps even as early as age 5 (Leverson & Haga, 2012). After the
fundamentals are reached it is necessary to maintain the upkeep of the learned skills in order to
continue the upward development. During the first stages of development however much of a young performer’s actions are reflexive and therefore not as reliable, and must be coached and guided in order to develop muscle memory that will later on become willful and purposeful movements.
The mentality of the sport is perhaps where a young performer can be broken in far
worse ways than bodily injury can produce. While the psychological impact of sports and what they can represent in the life of any young performer are an important part of the development through the lifespan, they are also closely related to the physical development of any athlete. Undue stress placed upon a young performer to do well and to win is as damaging as any physical injury in that the level of stress placed upon the athlete becomes a physical stressor that affects performance (Smoll, 2013). When stress is introduced in great quantities many individuals are seen to stumble and even fail to develop fully as a result. Though not as obviously responsible for physical development, the psychological aspect of sports can affect the development of motor skills just as easily as any physical impairment or injury.
The key concepts of adapting a sport to a young performer are to adjust all physical
boundaries to allow for motor skills to be tested and trained, and to adapt coaching methods to
the level that is acceptable for younger athletes. So long as these key concepts are followed the
possibility exists for growth and to hone the competitive edge that drives so many athletes in
their chosen sport. Whether a young performer has true skill or not is irrelevant at lower age
levels, as the use of motor skills at younger ages are still fundamental and rudimentary at best.
Once an athlete reaches the age of 7 and older it is possible to start specializing their skill set in
order to achieve maximum effort.
How Key Concepts and Principles Are Applied to Young Performers
How a coach deals with their young performers tends to rely heavily on the age group to begin with. Using soccer as an example once again allows for a better visual when speaking of how motor skills are developed and carefully developed. As the typical young performer will enter this sport at the age of five or older, they will still be using fundamental motor skills that are just beginning to become sport-related and have yet to fully mature (Konnicke, 2009). For this reason a coach must be cautious in demanding too much of their players, as soccer is not only a highly competitive sport but a physically demanding one as well.
One key to loosen young performers up and endear them to the sport is to remind them
that it is meant to be fun, that no matter whether they win or lose, they are encouraged to do their
best without any pressure. Though psychological in nature this practice can be used to alleviate
the need for young performers to push themselves to excess, thereby lessening the chance for
injury caused by overexertion. With that fundamental practice in place it can then become a
priority to show the young performers the basics of the sport, using broad, generalized
movements that can slowly introduce them to the process of how to play the game.
As the young performer grows older it is essential to keep the level of coaching as adaptable as possible, allowing for new skills to blossom and take shape. Throughout each level it is absolutely necessary to cater to and pay close attention to the development of the young performers so that the training methods are as accurate as possible. If left too simple the athletes learn nothing and can begin to gradually decline in skill level, interest, and even motor skills development from lack of use (Oswalt, 2008). If the lessons increase drastically without proper monitoring the threat of burnout and injury becomes just as prevalent.
In such cases when a young performer is pushed too far they will likely lose interest and simply quit. Those who are truly skilled can become just as disenchanted with the sport as any other if they are not guided and allowed to develop their skills as needed. As the pressures of the sport continue to grow within different age groups it is necessary to maintain the steady level of ascension in motor skill development so as to avoid the pitfalls that are associated with the need to excel and push an athlete to the breaking point. While in some areas it is necessary to break down an athlete to better understand just how far they can go, the recovery process is always the same.
The desired outcome of finely tuned motor skills developed over a period of time is the
end result, and is not essential to the primary building of such skills. There is no harm in
allowing young performers to set attainable goals for themselves, but proper monitoring and
guidance will allow the motor skills that are needed to mature in stages so as not to place too
much stress upon other factors that are just as important to the development of a young
performer. These can include the amount of sleep that is necessary, an athlete’s appetite during
meal times and even the amount of focus they place on outcomes that are too far into the future
Sleep is essential to any athlete as without a chance to rest and recharge the body will eventually begin to wear down quicker. Without an acceptable period of down time the motor skills developed upon the field will begin to suffer and become haphazard at best as the body becomes unable to keep up with the demands that are being placed upon it. In order to keep such skills progressing forward as is needed the body requires a minimum amount of rest that is typically around 6-8 hours per night for a young performer. As young athletes are still in a state of growth that is not wise to interrupt, their rest time is vital to their performance (Chhun, 2012).
A young performer must be given at least a day or more to rest without any overly strenuous physical activity (Rose, 2016) in order to stay at a healthy level of fitness. A young performer needs to take time out for other activities such as school and down time. It is important to note that they must also consolidate everything they have learned in order to better understand the movements and techniques. Even younger performers still learning the fundamentals must be allowed time to gain even a beginning amount of coordination over their movements.
A young performer’s diet can be a major factor that influences performance. Proper nutrition, especially for a sport as demanding as soccer, is a must as the body needs fuel as the young athlete continues to grow and push their boundaries. In order to excel and reach new limits a balanced diet must be established and implemented. Physical fitness demands that an athlete eat well-balanced meals that offer needed energy and stimulation necessary to perform.
Other factors that have to do with a young performer’s continued health and security are
those which the athlete has no control over, as these must be regulated and controlled by coaches
and other officials. These are tangible factors such as the size of the playing fields and
equipment to be used and the intensity of the workouts. Keeping in mind the early development
of young performers, a full-sized soccer field would be ludicrous to use for games or even
practice. Also nets need to be lowered, and balls need to be sized to accommodate the young
performers’ needs. While the workout of running up and down the soccer field is beneficial to
the development of specialized motor skills and to the further development of cardio fitness
amongst young performers, forcing young athletes to utilize a full size field is a risk that is
unacceptable on many levels (Murphy, 2016).
There is the possibility that the effort would wear out and bore younger performers, especially those young enough to lose focus and drive after so long. The physical exhaustion would continue to exclude those who are not entirely willing to undergo such training. Keeping the playing field and the implements on par with the development of the athletes is crucial to keep them healthy and able to fully enjoy the sport while teaching them how to better utilize the motor skills that are continually developing throughout their continued participation. Once the necessary maturation of motor skills is reached is it acceptable to allow young performers the full experience.
The process of coaching is to inspire and motivate athletes, but also to monitor and see to
their well-being as well, particularly in the case of young performers that have yet to master the
more fundamental movements (Stricker, 2015). A good coach will take into account the level of development of and plan their training methods accordingly (Tomarchio, 2016), paying close attention the skill level of their athletes. Through positive gain in skills through the continual
focus upon development of motor functions it is possible to foster a deep love for sports and
fitness in young performers. The developing athlete needs to be catered to in order to better understand both their skill level and how far they can go before they are asked to perform. The game must adapt to the needs of the athlete before the athlete can begin to grow.
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