Journal of Sports Sciences
ISSN: 0264-0414 (Print) 1466-447X (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjsp20
Can an early perceptuo-motor skills assessment predict future performance in youth table tennis players? An observational study (1998–2013) Irene R. Faber, Marije T. Elferink-Gemser, Frits G. J. Oosterveld, Jos W. R. Twisk & Maria W. G. Nijhuis-Van der Sanden To cite this article: Irene R. Faber, Marije T. Elferink-Gemser, Frits G. J. Oosterveld, Jos W. R. Twisk & Maria W. G. Nijhuis-Van der Sanden (2016): Can an early perceptuo-motor skills assessment predict future performance in youth table tennis players? An observational study (1998–2013), Journal of Sports Sciences, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1180421 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1180421
Published online: 02 May 2016.
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Date: 02 May 2016, At: 08:25
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES, 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1180421
Can an early perceptuo-motor skills assessment predict future performance in youth table tennis players? An observational study (1998–2013) Irene R. Fabera,b,c, Marije T. Elferink-Gemserd, Frits G. J. Oostervelda, Jos W. R. Twiske,f and Maria W. G. NijhuisVan der Sandenb a
Faculty of Physical Activity and Health, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, The Netherlands; bRadboud University Medical Centre, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, IQhealthcare, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; cSports Science and Medical Committee, International Table Tennis Federation, Lausanne, Switzerland; dCentre for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; eDepartment of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; f Department of Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Downloaded by [Tulane University] at 08:25 02 May 2016
ABSTRACT
This study intended to investigate the capability of the 4 test items “sprint”, “agility”, “speed while dribbling” and “throwing a ball” of the Dutch perceptuo-motor skills assessment used at the age of 7–10 years to predict table tennis performance (U13, U15 and U18) in an observational study. Data of 1191 young table tennis players, collected from 1998 to 2013, were analysed in univariable and multivariable logistic and linear regression models. The test items “sprint” and “throwing a ball” showed to be significant predictors for table tennis performance outcomes in boys (P < 0.05). For girls, besides these test items also “speed while dribbling” had a significant contribution (P < 0.05). Since the accuracies of the models were low, it is advised to include other determinants to enhance the predictive value of a model for table tennis performance. Nevertheless, it can be concluded that a perceptuomotor skills assessment might improve the effectiveness of talent programmes in table tennis as an additional method to objectively estimate a youth players’ potential. Future research focusing on the inclusion of test items specifically assessing eye hand coordination and other domains, for example, the psychological and the environmental domain, related to table tennis performance are recommended.
Introduction The development from a youngster to an elite world-class player in a large number of sport games is a long-term, multidimensional and highly complex process (Elferink-Gemser, Jordet, Coelho-E-Silva, & Visscher, 2011; Panjan, Sarabon, & Filipčič, 2010; Phillips, Davids, Renshaw, & Portus, 2010). This also applies to the development of youngsters in table tennis to elite players. As in many other sports, these youngsters need to develop tremendously in the fields of playing techniques, tactics, physical fitness and not in the least in the mental and psychological domain for reaching the world’s highest playing level (Ak & Koçak, 2010; Akpinar, Devrilmez, & Kirazci, 2012; Chu, Chen, Chen, Huang, & Hung, 2012; Horsch, 1990; Kondrič, Zagatto, & Sekulić, 2013; Lees, 2003; Liu, Zhou, Ji, & Watson, 2012; Lopez & Santelices, 2012; Raab, Masters, & Maxwell, 2005). The associations’ talent programmes try to support young table tennis players aiming for the elite level by setting up special training facilities and personal coaching. Players with the highest potential for elite table tennis are sought to ensure the effectiveness of such programmes (Gagné, 2004; Vaeyens, Lenoir, Williams, & Philippaerts, 2008). However, the identification and selection of these rough diamonds is a challenge as measuring the potential for elite table
CONTACT Irene R. Faber KB, The Netherlands
[email protected]
ARTICLE HISTORY
Accepted 14 April 2016 KEYWORDS
Psychomotor performance; aptitude; racquet sports; gifted children; predictability
tennis is still a wasteland (Faber, Bustin, Oosterveld, ElferinkGemser, & Nijhuis-Van Der Sanden, 2016). Table tennis is regarded as an early entry sport and associations already try to find high potential players at a young age (
