at Google ScholarTitle data
Hohmann, Andreas ; Siener, Maximilian ; Charbonnet, Bryan ; Yin, Xiaofeng ; Gan, Sizhe:
Youth Training and Sport Participation : A Differenciated Model of Athlete Development.
In: Sport Science Research.
Vol. 46
(2025)
Issue 4
.
- pp. 1-17.
ISSN 1006-1207
Abstract in another language
Background: The question of whether to start training and specialize early in a desired main sport or to promote a parallel or subsequent diversified involvement in a range of other sports in combination with later specialization is the subject of an ongoing controversy in the literature. This study suggests a differentiated model of athlete development(DMAPD) with distinct pathways between specialization and diversification during the adolescent stages from child-to adulthood and examines the way in which youth athletes from different competition sports manage this task in line with the model hypotheses. Methods: Using motor test data(M test age=8.04 years, SD=0.63) as well as follow-up data on the career development of German male youth athletes(M final age=20.06 years, SD=0.69) 943 athletes from six different competition sports(soccer, tennis, table tennis, XC skiing, endurance run, and road cycling) were included in the statistical analysis. Findings: The analysis showed differentiated strategies of the talented youth athletes which in general confirm the differentiated model proposed. In the process of sports specialization the athletes individually nuanced pathway to adult sports performance does not only depend on the personal constraint of their personal motor versatility in combination with the situational constraint of the main sports complexity, but also on the solutions of the tasks to initiate systematic training in the main sport and to participate(to a certain extent) in other sports.Conclusion: The findings confirm the DMAPD and strengthen the model consideration of a gradual and multidimensional understanding of early specialization versus diversification of training in competition sports in combination with the specific requirements of the sport and the intrapersonal performance characteristics and dispositions. It can be assumed that the preferred strategies of sports participation are fundamentally influenced by individual cognitions and contextual aspects that acknowledge the complex and ideographical nature of youth athletes development.
Further data
| Item Type: | Article in a journal |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Keywords: | youth training; differenciated model; sport participation; training start; early specialization; diversification; motor testing |
| Institutions of the University: | Faculties > Faculty of Cultural Studies Faculties > Faculty of Cultural Studies > Department of Sport Science Faculties > Faculty of Cultural Studies > Department of Sport Science > Chair Sport Science I - Neuromotorik und Bewegung |
| Result of work at the UBT: | Yes |
| DDC Subjects: | 700 Arts and recreation > 790 Sports, games, entertainment |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Feb 2026 09:10 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Feb 2026 09:10 |
| URI: | https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/96384 |