In sports like gymnastics and figure skating where peak performance occurs before physical maturation it logically follows that athletes need to be dedicated to their athletic development at a young age if elite performance is to be attained. However, countless studies have reported that early specialization in a single sport exposes youth to elevated risks of negative physical, psychological or emotional outcomes associated with sport participation (Côté & Fraser-Thomas, 2007). As such, it is important that we develop an understanding of the contextual factors or features of specialized youth sport environment(s) that are having positive impacts on youth growth, development and long-term commitment to sport. By harnessing an understanding of the features of specialized youth sport environments that positively contribute to the youth sport experience, we will be better equipped to mitigate the increased risk of negative outcomes in these environments. Using the National Research Council Institute of Medicine’s (2002) eight setting features as a framework, the general goal of the current study was to explore the specialized youth sport environment as it is experienced by young athletes. Photo-elicitation was used to conduct interviews with 15 female athletes between the ages of 8 and 13 who primarily participated in one sport for 12 or more hours per week, for at least 9 months of the year. Two over-arching dimensions of the specialized youth sport experience emerged from the themes generated by the interviews: program design and interaction. Program design represents six themes underpinning the program’s inherent structure and organization: personal performance emphasis, consistent training structure, adaptable practice activities, rule guided engagement, appropriate equipment set-up and maintenance, and supervision by one or more adults. The interaction dimension represents six themes that emerged as a result of relationships with key social agents (e.g., parents, coaches, peers, community) of the sport environment: tangible support, informational support, emotional support, cultivation of camaraderie, achievement recognition, and opportunities for autonomy. These findings add to the literature as they provide a first step in understanding the specialized youth sport environment from the athlete’s eyes. That is, they not only help us understand the elements of the youth sport environment that youth perceive as important, but they also provide us with a working framework of the key features that are likely to contribute to positive outcomes in specialized sport environments. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2011-10-11 21:50:33.779

Syfte: Syftet blir att granska vilka vägar det finns för barn och ungdomar att gå för att få möjligheten att representera herr- respektive damlandslaget. Och därefter titta på hur vägen för 41 st lanslagspelare både på herr- och damsidan har sett ut.   Metod: Metoden till denna undersökning har delats upp i två. Den större delen består av en dokumentanalys, där dokument har samlats in och analyserats för att få fram ett resultat. Den andra delen består av en kvalitativ ansats som är två expertintervjuer.   Resultat: Undersökningens resultat visade att det fanns olika vägar att gå för att kunna få möjligheten att representera herr- respektive damlandslaget, de två vanligaste var sampling och tidig specialisering. Variationen var stor bland de manliga fotbollsspelarnas väg till A-landslaget, medan vägarna till A-landslaget för de kvinnliga fotbollsspelarna såg för det mesta likadant ut.   Diskussion: Hur vägarna ser ut till att nå topp eliten och spel i A-landslaget för herr och damer kan bero på olika saker. Fotbollsfostran kan vara en avgörande faktor kring hur din väg kan komma att se ut, beroende på en föreningsfostran eller en tävlingsfostran. / Purpose: The purpose is to review which ways there are for children and young adults to get the opportunity to represent the men's and women's team. And then look at how the ways of 41 national team players have looked like, both men and women.   Method: The method of this survey has been divided into two. The bulk consists of a document analysis, where documents have been collected and analyzed to produce a result. The second part consists of a qualitative approach that is two expert interviews.   Results: The survey results showed that there were different ways to go in order to be able to represent the male and female national teams, the two most common were sampling and early specialization. The variation was great among the male soccer players' path to the A national team, while the roads to the A national team for the female football players looked mostly the same.   Discussion: How the roads seem to reach the top elite and play in the A-national team for men and women can depend on different things. Football education can be a crucial factor in how your route may look, depending on a club education or a contest education.

Title: Different approches and their impact on musculosceletal system of tennis players. Objectives: The central aim of master thesis was the comparison of flexibility and agility of Norwegian tennis players and tennnis players from Czech Republic at the competitive level. The comparsion was respecting and taking into consideration apllied compensatory program which was a building part of the study. The another aim was to aquire information regarding training preparation of tennis players from Norway and their comparison to training preparation of Czech players. Methods: Thesis is an quasi-experimental study. In the beginning and the end of this study all players underwent the opening and final measurments of flexibilty and agility. Final measurements were done after five days of intervetion with emphasis on unilateral load compensation. Intervetion contained predominantly flexibility and agility exercises. The specialized questionarre was filled by trainers of Oslo Tennis Club, chosen trainers from all around the Czech Republic and ten professional tennis players from Czech national team. Obtained data were analysed using statistic methods. Results: The firts hypothesis assuming statistically more significant data from opening flexibility measurments of Norwegian players compared to Czech players...

Introduction: Generally, children and adolescents enjoy the practice of sports. However, increase number of competition and competitiveness in youth sports has been causing an increment in frequency and volume of training, leading to sport specialization. Even if sport specialization being a subject much discussed, there is no consensus about your consequences in school children. Aim: to estimate odds ratio of sport specialization in school athletic population. Methods: sample characterization instruments and specialization questionnaire were answered for 830 participants of different modalities. Participants were recruited from public and private school. The classification of the specialization was carried out based on the methods of self-classification and three points system. The data analysis was performed through the descriptive statistics, chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression analysis, p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The analysis results showed that the most studies population is male. The points system ranked adolescents at levels: low, medium and high specialization, showed 61.8% (n=495), 29.5% (n=235), 8.7% (n=70), respectively, allocated in each category. Participants classified themselves how single (n=405, 50.6%) or multiple sports (n=396, 49.4%), through the self-classification system. The methods association (three points system and self-classification), showed statistically significant (p=0.001). Conclusion: the odds ratio of sport specialization is low. Age and school size variables were not decisive for influencing in school children specialization. Sport specialization is influenced by the type of school and sex. / INTRODUÇÃO: Em geral adolescentes desfrutam da prática esportiva. O crescimento do número de competições e competitividade nos esportes juvenis, vem causando um aumento na frequência e volume de treinamento, levando a especialização esportiva. Ainda que seja um tema bastante discutido na literatura, não existe um consenso sobre suas consequências em escolares. OBJETIVO: Estimar a chance de especialização esportiva precoce em uma população atlética escolar. MÉTODO: Os instrumentos para caracterização da amostra e o Questionário Sobre Especialização foram respondidos por 830 praticantes de modalidades distintas. Os participantes foram recrutados de escolas públicas e particulares. A classificação da especialização foi feita baseada nos métodos de autoclassificação e no sistema de três pontos. A análise dos dados foi realizada através da estatística descritiva, teste qui-quadrado e análise de regressão logística multinomial. Foram considerados estatisticamente significativos valores de p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Os resultados das análises mostraram que a maior parte da população estudada é do sexo masculino. O sistema de pontos classificou os adolescentes em níveis: baixa, média e alta especialização, mostrando 61,8% (n=495), 29,5% (n=235), 8,7% (n=70) respectivamente, alocados em cada categoria. Os participantes se classificaram como praticantes de um único (n=405, 50,6%), ou vários esportes (n=396, 49,4%) através do sistema de autoclassificação. A associação entre os métodos (sistema de 3 pontos e autoclassificação), mostrou-se significativa estatisticamente (p=0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A chance de um escolar ser especializado precocemente é baixa. As variáveis idade e tamanho da escola não foram determinantes para influenciar na especialização dos escolares. Contudo, a especialização esportiva parece ser influenciada pela sexo e tipo de escola. / São Cristóvão, SE

Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med denna studie var att ge en djupare förståelse kring aktiva elit-damfotbollsspelares erfarenheter och synpunkter kring tidig specialisering/diversifiering i förhållande till motivationsaspekter. Frågeställningarna var: Vad är aktiva elit-damfotbollsspelares syn på tidig specialisering och diversifiering? Hur ser aktiva elit-damfotbollsspelare på sina erfarenheter inom idrotten i förhållande till motivationsaspekter? Metod Studien är kvalitativ och har genomförts genom intervjuer. Fyra aktiva elit-damfotbollsspelare mellan 17–18 år deltog i studien, från tre olika elit-certifierade föreningar i Stockholmsområdet. Intervjuerna spelades in, transkriberades och analyserades. Författarna letade efter beskrivningar som stämde överens med förutbestämda teorier/definitioner och nya tankar/idéer. Resultat Resultatet visade att samtliga deltagare hade liknande synpunkter kring tidig specialisering; att tidigt utveckla idrottsspecifika färdigheter. Alla deltagare hade erfarenheter av diversifiering och tre av dem specialiserade sig inom fotbollen vid 16 års ålder. Alla deltagare rekommenderade att tjejer ska bestämma själva om man ska specialisera eller diversifiera sig. Fyra huvudteman framkom utifrån intervjuerna; syn på tidig specialisering, erfarenheter av diversifiering och senarelagd specialisering, diversifiering och motivationsaspekter, samt senarelagd specialisering och motivationsaspekter. Slutsats Idrottarens väg till elitprestation är mer komplicerad än vad författarna trodde, exempelvis kan man satsa på en huvudidrott och utöva andra idrotter för nöjets skull tills man är uppe i gymnasieålder. Det kanske handlar mindre om att specialisera sig eller inte utan hur träningen upplevs, hur man utvecklar idrottsspecifika idrottsfärdigheter, en kvalitetstränare, idrottarens autonomi, att nå sin fulla potential och vara i en involverande kamrat-miljö med gemensamt intresse av att spela fotboll.

Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur tidig specialisering framför allt påverkar handbollsföreningen Ystad IF (YIF) och få en uppfattning kring hur IFK Ystad (IFK) tänker när spelare som inte platsar i YIF går till IFK i stället. Studien kommer också fokusera på hur det påverkar ungdomsleden i IFK och om det försvårar för ungdomarna i IFK att kunna ta en plats i A-laget samt hur samarbetet ser ut idag mellan föreningarna i förhållande till deras historiska rivalitet.  Metod: Denna studie utgår från en kvalitativ strukturerad intervjustudie med ett induktivt angreppsätt. Fem intervjuer gjordes där två av dem representerade YIF, en av dem från IFK och två spelare som tidigare spelat i YIF men som idag spelar i IFK. En avgränsning gjordes där fokus endast låg på handboll. Tillsammans med information från intervjuerna användes vetenskapliga artiklar, relevant litteratur samt allmänna källor och hemsidor för att kunna analysera fram ett resultat.  Teori: Det teoretiska ramverket som användes för studien utgick från sportifieringsmodellen samt tre av de sju processer som beskriver idrotten av Guttmann (2004).  Resultat och slutsatser: Resultaten visade att YIF strävar efter att skapa en balans mellan tidig specialisering och att uppmuntra ungdomarna att delta i flera sporter. De ansåg att tidig specialisering bör ske vid gymnasieåldern, runt 16 år, för att spelarna ska vara mogna att satsa på en sport. IFK har idag heller inga problem med att rekrytera spelare från YIF utan snarare kan se det som en fördel. IFK betonade vikten av att vilja satsa på talanger som vill bli bäst och att de bästa spelare ska spela oavsett vart de kommer ifrån. Samarbetet mellan föreningarna ansågs vara gynnsamt, och rivaliteten mellan dem hade i stort sett försvunnit i jämförelse med förr. Studien anses ha nått sitt syfte genom att ge insikter om YIF:s syn på tidig specialisering, IFK:s attityd till att ta emot spelare från YIF och det nuvarande tillståndet av rivalitet mellan föreningarna. / Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate how early specialization primarily affects the handball club Ystad IF (YIF) and gain an understanding of IFK Ystad's (IFK) perspective when players who don't make it to YIF join IFK instead. The study also focuses on how this affects the youth teams in IFK and whether it hinders the youth players' chances of making it to the senior team. Additionally, the study examines the current state of collaboration between the two clubs in relation to their historical rivalry.  Method: This study employs a qualitative structured interview study with an inductive approach. Five interviews were conducted, two representing YIF, one from IFK, and two players who previously played for YIF but now play for IFK. The study specifically focuses on handball. Alongside the interview data, scientific articles, relevant literature, and general sources were used to analyze and derive results.  Theory: The theoretical framework of the study is based on the sportification model and three of Guttmann's (2004) seven processes that describe sports.  Results and Conclusions: The results revealed that YIF strives to strike a balance between early specialization and encouraging youth players to participate in multiple sports. They believed that early specialization should occur during the high school years, around the age of 16, when players are mature enough to commit to a single sport. IFK currently has no issues with recruiting players from YIF. In fact, they see it as an advantage. IFK emphasized the importance of investing in talented players who aspire to excel and that the best players should play regardless of their origin. The collaboration between the clubs was considered beneficial, and the rivalry between them has largely diminished compared to the past. The study has achieved its objective by providing insights into YIF ́s perspective on early specialization, IFK ́s attitude towards recruiting players from YIF, and the current state of rivalry between the clubs.

Syftet med studien var att studera unga ishockeykillars syn på sin väg till NIU (Nationell idrottsutbildning) gymnasium. Det som har gjorts är semistrukturerade gruppintervjuer med totalt 12 ishockeyspelare födda 2004 och 2005.  Uppsatsen grundar sig i utvalda teorier kring tidig specialisering och vad som krävs för att ungdomarna ska lyckas. Totalt har 12 killar som tillhör ett NIU i region syd deltagit i intervjuerna för att få en ärlig sida från spelarna vad de tycker om 1) TV- pucken 2) U16 Regional Syd och 3) NIU.  Resultatet visar att spelarna tänker ungefär rätt lika allihop. De vill att U16 Regional Syd ska finnas kvar då de menar att de är ett bra tillfälle att få spela den serien och visa upp sig då det är året innan NIU antagning. Spelarna är också överens om att TV-pucken tar för mycket fokus och är någon unga killar fokuserar för mycket på. / The purpose of the study was to study young ice hockey boys on their way to NIU (National Sports Education) high school. What has been done are semi-structured group interviews with a total of 12 ice hockey players born in 2004 and 2005. The thesis is based on selected theories about early specialization and what is required for young people to succeed. A total of 12 guys who belong to an NIU in region south participated in the interviews to get an honest side from the players what they think of 1) TV-pucken 2) U16 Regional Syd and 3) NIU. The results show that the players think the same thing. They want U16rs to remain as they believe they are a good opportunity to play that series and show up as it is the year before NIU admission. The players also agree that the TV-puck takes too much focus and is something young guys focus too much on.