Talent in Female Gymnastics: a Survival Analysis Based upon Performance Characteristics

Abstract

This study investigated the link between the anthropometric, physical and motor characteristics assessed during talent identification and dropout in young female gymnasts. 3 cohorts of female gymnasts (n=243; 6–9 years) completed a test battery for talent identification. Performance-levels were monitored over 5 years of competition. Kaplan-Meier and Cox Proportional Hazards analyses were conducted to determine the survival rate and the characteristics that influence dropout respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that only 18% of the female gymnasts that passed the baseline talent identification test survived at the highest competition level 5 years later. The Cox Proportional Hazards Model indicated that gymnasts with a score in the best quartile for a specific characteristic significantly increased chances of survival by 45–129%. These characteristics being: basic motor skills (129%), shoulder strength (96%), leg strength (53%) and 3 gross motor coordination items (45–73%). These results suggest that tests batteries commonly used for talent identification in young female gymnasts may also provide valuable insights into future dropout. Therefore, multidimensional test batteries deserve a prominent place in the selection process. The individual test results should encourage trainers to invest in an early development of basic physical and motor characteristics to prevent attrition.

Key word

dropout - talent identification - anthropometry - physical tests - motor coordination tests - participation

• References

• 1 Abbott A, Collins D. Eliminating the dichotomy between theory and practice in talent identification and development: considering the role of psychology. J Sport Sci 2004; 22: 395-408
• 2 Ahnert J, Schneider WKB. Developmental changes and individual stability of motor abilities from the preschool period to young adulthood. In: Schneider W, Bullock MR. eds Human development from early childhood to early adulthood: Evidence from the Munich Longitudinal Study on the Genesis of individual Competencies (LOGIC). Mahwah: NJ: Erlbaum; 2009: 35-62
• 3 Baker J. Early specialization in youth sport: A requirement for adult expertise?. High Abil Stud 2003; 14: 85-94
• 4 Baker J, Horton S. A review of primary and secondary influences on sport expertise. High Abil Stud 2004; 15: 211-228
• 5 Bruininks RH, Bruininks BD. BOT-2: Bruininks-Oseretsky Tests of Motor Proficiency. Second edition ed Minneapolis: AGS Publishing; 2006
• 6 Butcher J, Lindner KJ, Johns DP. Withdrawal from competitive youth sport: A retrospective ten-year study. J Sport Behav 2002; 25: 145-163
• 7 Claessens AL, Lefevre J. Morphological and performance characteristics as drop-out indicators in female gymnasts. J Sport Med Phys Fit 1998; 38: 305-309
• 8 Claessens AL, Lefevre J, Beunen G, Malina RM. The contribution of anthropometric characteristics to performance scores in elite female gymnasts. J Sport Med Phys Fit 1999; 39: 355-360
• 9 Cote J. The influence of the family in the development of talent in sport. Sport Psychol 1999; 13: 395-417
• 10 Council of Europe . Eurofit: Handbook for the EUROFIT Tests of Physical Fitness. Rome: Secretariat of the Committee for the Development of Sport within the Council of Europe 1988;
• 11 Ericsson KA, Krampe RT, Teschromer C. The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance. Psychol Rev 1993; 100: 363-406
• 12 Fraser-Thomas J, Cote J, Deakin J. Examining adolescent sport dropout and prolonged engagement from a developmental perspective. J Appl Sport Psychol 2008; 20: 318-333
• 13 Gould D, Udry E, Tuffey S, Loehr J. Reasons for attrition in competitive youth swimming. J Sport Behav 1982; 5: 155-165
• 14 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research: 2014 update. Int J Sports Med. 2013 34. 1025-1028
• 15 Kiphard EJ, Schilling F. Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. 2. Überarbeitete und ergänzte Auflage. ed Weinheim: Beltz: Test GmbH; 2007
• 16 Koukouris K. Premature athletic disengagement of elite Greek gymnasts. Eur J Sport and Soc 2005; 2: 35-56
• 17 Lidor R, Hershko Y, Bilkevitz A, Arnon M, Falk B. Measurement of talent in volleyball: 15-month follow-up of elite adolescent players. J Sport Med Phys Fit 2007; 47: 159-168
• 18 Lohman TM, Roche AF, Martorell R. Anthropometric standardization reference manual. Champaign IL: Human Kinetics; 1988
• 19 Lopes VP, Rodrigues LP, Maia JAR, Malina RM. Motor coordination as predictor of physical activity in childhood. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2011; 21: 663-669
• 20 Petlichkoff LM. Psychology of Sport – the Behavior, Motivation, Personality, and Performance of Athletes, 2^nd Edition – Butt, Ds. J Sport Exerc Psychol 1989; 11: 346-348
• 21 Prescott J. Identification and development of talent in young female gymnasts. Loughborough University 1999;
• 22 Russell J, Martindale J, Collins D, Abraham A. Effective Talent Development: The Elite Coach Perspective in UK Sport. J Appl Sport Psychol 2010; 19: 187-206
• 23 Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS. Using Multivariate Statistics. 5 ed. Boston: Pearson Education Inc.; 2007
• 24 Vaeyens R, Lenoir M, Williams AM, Philippaerts RM. Talent identification and development programmes in sport – Current models and future directions. Sports Med 2008; 38: 703-714
• 25 Vandorpe B, Vandendriessche J, Vaeyens R, Pion J, Lefevre J, Philippaerts R, Lenoir M. Factors Discriminating Gymnasts by Competitive Level. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 591-597
• 26 Vandorpe B, Vandendriessche JB, Vaeyens R, Pion J, Lefevre J, Philippaerts RM, Lenoir M. The value of a non-sport-specific motor test battery in predicting performance in young female gymnasts. J Sport Sci 2012; 30: 497-505
• 27 Weiss MR, Williams L. The why of youth sport involvement: A developmental perspective on motivational processes. In: Weiss MR. (ed.). Developmental Sport and Exercise Psychology: A Lifespan Perspective. Morgantown: WV: Fitness Information Technology; 2004: 223-268