Developmental pathway routes to achieve expert performance in portuguese track and field athletes

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to characterize the developmental pathway undertaken by Portuguese expert track and field athletes considering the quantity and type of structured and unstructured activities. Methods: The sample was composed of 24 experts and 35 non-expert athletes who completed a questionnaire designed to gather information about their previous experiences in sports. Results: Results reveal key factors which distinguished expert from non-expert athletes' developmental pathway were related to a greater commitment within track and field in relation to years (U = 251.000, p < 0.01) and hours (U = 212.500, p < .01), as well as with the number of years spent in unstructured activities (U = 284.500, p < .05). Furthermore, a significant association (χ2 = 27.131, p < 0.01) was found between the number of unstructured activities practiced and an expert performance attainment. Conclusions: These findings revealed that more successfully track and field athletes had an early diversified pathway with greater involvement in structured and unstructured activities. Overall, the study provides an insight into the developmental pathway of Portuguese track and field athletes.

Manipulating the number of players and targets in team sports Small-Sided Games during Physical Education classes / Manipulación del Número de juegadores y metas en juegos reducidos de deportes colectivos durante las clases de Educación física

This study aimed to examine the effects of players and targets number variation on technical, tactical and physiological indicators in basketball, handball and futsal. Nine students of the 8th grade (age 13.3 ± 0.7 years, stature 166.8 ± 3.8 cm, body mass 55.3 ± 4.2 kg) participated in four small-sided games (SSG) for each sport. Despite of the differences between sports, similar mean values of technical and tactical indicators were found in both basketball and futsal SSG. The increase of players’ incited the duration of unsuccessful offensive phase, number of passes per offensive phase, successful passes per offensive phase and decreases ball possession per player. Whilst all SSG in this study imposed high physiological demand, 3 v 3 games played with one target elicited the greatest responses. In conclusion, the 3x3 SSG promoted similar technical-tactical indicators and higher physiological demands than 4x4 SSG

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo examinar los efectos del número de jugadores y metas en la variación de los indicadores técnicos, tácticos y fisiológicos en baloncesto, balonmano y fútbol sala. Nueve estudiantes del octavo grado (edad 13.3 ± 0.7 años, estatura 166.8 ± 3.8 cm, masa corporal 55.3 ± 4.2 kg) participarón en cuatro juegos reducidos (SSG) para cada deporte. A pesar de las diferencias entre los deportes, se encontrarón valores medios similares en los indicadores técnicos y tácticos tanto en los juegos reducidos del baloncesto como en los de fútbol sala. El aumento de los jugadores ha provocado el aumento de la duración de la fase ofensiva sin éxito, número de pases por fase ofensiva, pases acertados por fase ofensiva y ha provocado una disminución de la posesión del balón por jugador. Mientras la totalidad de juegos reducidos utilizados en este estudio han impuesto un elevada demanda fisiológica, los juegos reducidos de 3x3 jugados con una meta provocaron las mayores respuestas. En conclusión, los juegos reducidos de 3x3 ha inducido valores similares en los indicadores técnico-tácticos, pero demandas fisiológicas más altas que los juegos reducidos de 4x4

Iniciação desportiva, actividades prévias e especialização no treino de futsal em Portugal / Sport initiation, early sport involvement and specialization in futsal training in Portugal

O presente estudo pretende analisar e caracterizar a preparação desportiva em longo prazo dos melhores jogadores de futsal portugueses. Para alcançar este objetivo foram realizados dois estudos distintos. O estudo 1 permitiu averiguar o percurso desportivo de jogadores séniores proveniente de diferentes níveis competitivos, elite (n=60), intermédio (n=160) e regional (151). Por sua vez, o estudo 2 comparou o envolvimento desportivo inicial dos melhores jogadores portugueses (n=24), com aquele desenvolvido por jogadores mais jovens, selecionados para representar as equipas distritais (n=270) e contemplou, adicionalmente, uma análise entre sexos. Todos os participantes preencheram um questionário previamente validado, que fornece informações de carácter retrospectivo sobre as atividades desportivas experiências ao longo da sua carreira. Os resultados demonstraram que os melhores jogadores se distinguem dos jogadores de níveis competitivos inferiores pela dedicação mais precoce ao treino desportivo e especificamente ao futsal, facto que é reforçado tanto pelo acréscimo progressivo do volume de treino semanal como na duração das épocas desportivas. Estes aspectos emergem como fatores discriminantes neste processo, não deixando de referenciar o contributo da prática diversificada no percurso dos melhores jogadores portugueses de futsal.

The present study aimed to analyze and characterize the long-term athlete development in the elite Portuguese futsal players. There were performed two different studies to achieve this goal. The first one allowed to ascertain the route of seniors sports players from different competitive levels, elite (n=60), medium (N=160) and regional (n=151). The second study has compared the early involvement of the elite senior Portuguese players (n=24), with the study developed with young players, selected to represent the district teams (n=270) and also included a comparison between genders. All the participants completed a previous validated questionnaire, which provides retrospective information about the sport activities experienced throughout his career. The results showed that the elite players are distinguished from lower level competitive players for their earlier dedication to the sports training and specifically to futsal, which is reinforced by the progressive increase in volume of weekly training as in the durations of seasons. These aspects emerge as discriminating factors in this process, whilst the early practice diversifications contribution to the course of the elite Portuguese futsal players.