چكيده لاتين :
The purpose of this study was to identify the quantity and type
of sporting activities undertaken by expert team sport athletes in
the earlier stages of the long-term athlete development. Experts
in roller-hockey (n = 19), volleyball (n = 14), soccer (n = 42)
and basketball (n = 37) provided detailed information about the
sporting activities they undertook throughout their careers.
Results showed considerable variation between and within
sports; however, generally, athletes began participating in sports
between 6 and 10 years of age. The pattern of participation in
specific and non-specific (team, individual and combat) sports
for each stage of involvement demonstrated an increase in the
number of activities participated in until early adolescence. Our
results suggest that involvement in multiple sports during early
stages of development is an alternative to early specialization
and add further evidence of the complexity of skill acquisition
in sport.
