Subscribe To This Site

Individual Differences and Sport Performance

Individual differences can influence athletes' capabilities to be successful in sports. Analyzing motor abilities can help coaches optimize each athlete's potential.

Many factors contribute to an athlete's performance. In the fields of psychology and motor behavior, individual differences are stable, enduring qualities that contribute to sport success.

Abilities vs. Skill

Motor abilities are inherited, relatively stable traits that underlie various sport skills. The notion of abilities is similar to that of intelligence as a predictor of academic performance.

Many specific abilities have been identified and grouped. Examples include: multi-limb coordination, control precision, aiming, explosive strength, dynamic flexibility, speed of limb movement, movement rate, and force control.

7'2" Wilt Chamberlain

Motor skill is the capability of performing with maximum certainty, minimum energy, or minimum time. It is developed through practice.

Coaches can analyze sport skills by identifying the motor abilities necessary for sport performance. Using a sport skill task analysis can help in teaching sport skills, aid in problem solving, and predict future performance.

Coaching Tips for Sport Performance

1. Conduct tests of motor abilities inherent in specific sport skills and include them in try outs.

2. Avoid making conclusive predictions about future performance based on initial practice, especially for beginners. Some who do well early in learning may not do well later.

3. Design skill learning experiences that capitalize on each athlete's stronger abilities and compensate for weaker ones.

4. Use motor ability grouping when designing sport fitness training activities to better match conditioning and strengthening activities with sport skill demands.

5. Be cautious about recruiting the "all-around" athlete. The notion of an athlete possessing general motor abilities for athletic success is not supported by research.

6. Individualize sports training programs that account for differences in motor abilities, as well as for gender, attitudes, motivational level, medical history, previous experience, and other factors that affect performance.

Topics under Mental Training:

Coaching Feedback

Mental Practice

Setting Goals

Sport Memory

Training Variation

Transfer of Training

index

sitemap

advanced

search engine by freefind

Top of Individual Differences

Back to Mental Training for Sports

Back to Home Page

Sources:

Fleishman. E.A. (1964). The structure and measurement of physical fitness. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Magill, R.A. (2001). Motor learning: Concepts and applications (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Schmidt, R.A. & Wrisberg, C.A. (2000). Motor learning and performance: A problem-based learning approach (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.