Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The aim of this study was to determine the effects of participation in a single sport small-sided games (SSG) programme compared to a multi-sport SSG programme on the physical fitness, gross motor coordination, soccer skills and application of tactics during soccer games of grade four children from a disadvantaged community. Two intact classes of boys and girls (n= 39 and n=40) participated in a six-week, 2x per week intervention programme. One class specialized in soccer and the other engaged in a diversified programme where they sampled hockey and team handball along with soccer. In terms of pedagogy, both classes followed a deliberate play model with its focus on intrinsic learning and non-intervention by a coach. Data were collected during pre-, post- and retention test periods. Both boys’ groups achieved significant improvements in their muscle endurance-push-ups, power and aerobic endurance on the retention test. Only the boys who participated in the multi-sport SSG programme achieved a significant improvement on their muscle endurance-sit-ups. The girls from both groups showed significant improvements in all physical fitness variables, with the exception of the girls in the muti-sport programme who did not achieve a significant improvement in their speed. Significant improvements were experienced by all groups for gross motor coordination and soccer skills. The boys in the soccer SSG programme demonstrated improvements in both offensive and defensive tactics while the boys in the multi-sport SSG programme improved in the application of their defensive tactics only. The girls who participated in the soccer SSG programme also improved in their defensive tactics while the girls who participated in the multi-sport SSG programme achieved improvements in their application of both offensive and defensive tactics. The results of this study support proponents of the Developmental Model of Sport Participation as presented in current sport pedagogy literature, who claim that the physical and tactical benefits pre-pubescent children derive from participation in a diversified games programme will be similar to those benefits derived from participation in a specialized sport-specific game programme, providing the sports involved are late specialization sports. These results support the conclusion that it is not necessary for pre-pubescent children to specialize in a late specialization sport such as soccer in order to progress in their ability to play soccer. They can make similar progress if they participate in a diversified games programme that provides them with a broader experience with sports that have similar physical and tactical requirements.

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Sport specialization is defined as a year-round, highly structured commitment to training for and competing in a single sport. Children who begin the process of specialization at an early age are potentially susceptible to several undesirable outcomes, including an increased risk of orthopedic injury, psychological burnout, and limited social development. Despite these inherent risks, the practice of early sport specialization has become prevalent in the United States. This study uses a grounded theory methodology to examine the role of parents in early sport specialization practices. Drawing on in-depth interviews with twelve parents of adolescent soccer players, the study finds that parents are drawn to early sport specialization because of multiple perceived benefits for their children. The two most prominent of these benefits are positive socialization and the use of the sport as a lever for higher education. Parents act on limited information when making decisions regarding early sport specialization, relying on advice and information from coaches, soccer clubs, and other parents to make their decisions. In this manner, the parents themselves are socialized into the culture of early specialized sport, adopting the established values and beliefs of the practice, and furthering the advancement of the practice of early specialization in youth sport. / text

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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

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Psykisk ohälsa bland elitidrottare har varit ett stigmatiserat område och forskning kring ämnet växer. Idag finns mycket som tyder på att elitidrottare utövar en livsstil med stora fysiska och psykiska belastningar vilket har visat sig vara mer ohälsosamt än vad den generella uppfattningen tidigare varit. Som elitidrottare förväntas en att leva efter idrottens alla regler för att bli framgångsrik. I den här uppsatsen studeras förekomst av, och skillnader i psykosomatiska besvär mellan tre grupper av gymnasieelever i årskurs tre som har elitidrottsinriktning (Nationellt godkänd idrottsutbildning, NIU), allmän idrottsinriktning (Idrottsprogram, IDR) och elever utan idrottsinriktning. Det undersöks även om det förekommer samband mellan psykosomat­iska besvär och de olika gymnasiala inriktningarna. Studien har genomförts med en kvant­itativ tvärsnittsstudie med enkäter som delades ut till två skolor i en ort i mellersta Sverige. Totalt deltog 116 elever i undersökningen, med elit- och idrotts- samt utan idrottsinriktning. Resultatet visade att det fanns psykosomatiska besvär hos de olika gymnasiala in­riktning­arna, men inga signifikanta skillnader eller samband fastställdes. Ett intressant biresultat som påträffades är ett signifikant samband mellan att vara nervös och irriterad och att vara stress­ad och ha svårt att sova, samt att sambandet stärktes för samtliga elever att ha nämnda besvär. Nyckelord: Folkhälsa, psykisk ohälsa, psykosomatiska besvär, elitidrott, gymnasieelever, gymnasial idrottsinriktning. / Mental illness among elite athletes has been a stigmatized area and the research area is growing. Today, a lot of things points towards that elite athletes are practicing a lifestyle with great physical and mental tension. Having a profession as an elite athlete has proven to be more unhealthy than the general perception was. As an elite athlete you are expected to live for the sport, to follow its rules in order to achieve a successful career. This study investigates the prevalence of, and differences in psychosomatic disorders between three groups of secondary school students in their last year who have elite sport special­ization (Nationally certified physical education), public sports specialization (sports program) and students without sport specialization. It also investigates whether there is an association between psychosomatic disorders and the three various sport specializations. A quantitative cross-sectional study was performed and a questionnaire were distributed to two schools in central Sweden. A total of 116 students in their 3rd and last year of the secondary school with elite- and sport orientation and without sport orientation participated in the survey. The results showed a difference in the prevalence of psychosomatic disorders among the various orientations in secondary school. Eventhough no significant diff­erences or associations between psychosomatic disorders and secondary school orientation was found, a secondary finding was found in the form of significant correlations for the student to be nervous and irritated with being stressed and having trouble falling asleep, and the associations became stronger for students having these problems. Keywords: Public health, mental disorder, psychosomatic disorder, elite sports, secondary school students, secondary school sport specialization.