PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

In times of growing media consumption and demographic changes, the risk of hypokinesia increase and so does the importance of physical and sport activity. In this project we pursue the research question how are throwing performances affected by practise in club sports vs. school sports. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the overarm throw and gender differences in performance will be examined. Previously, no significant difference was reported for athletes throughout age (childhood, pubescence & adolescence) or between genders in quantitative performance. Regarding movement quality, gender differences were obtained throughout these age bands (decreasing with age numerically); with increasing age performance of all athletes improved (Gromeier et al., 2017). These findings are the paradigmatic and methodological basis for our study. To assess age and gender-related differences, 110 participants (novices with no experience in throwing sports, 6 - 16 yrs.) were divided into three age bands (childhood, pubescence & adolescence). They were asked to throw as hard and accurately as possible at a marked target on the wall (75 x 75 cm). Number of hits and movement quality video recorded and analyzed by three independent experts according to the modified component approach (Halverson & Roberton, 1984). The two-way ANOVA (age x gender) yielded no effect of age on qualitative performance, F(2,104) = 1.45, ns, but a significant effect of gender, F(1,104) = 15.181, p < .001. The interaction effect was not significant, F(2,104) < 1, ns. For hit performance, the ANOVA showed no effect of age, F(2,104) < 1, ns, but gender was significant, F(1,104) = 6.121, p = .015. The interaction was not significant, F(2,104) < 1, ns. Across the three age bands, novices stagnated on a low level of performance and gender differences were found during childhood for trunk, forearm, and backswing actions, total qualitative performance and quantitative performance. During pubescence, gender differences existed for trunk action and during adolescence for backswing action. Throwing movement characteristics did not vary among the age bands in our novices. Throwing movement quality or accuracy (quantity) did not differ among the age bands in our novices and the skills stagnate on the level of childhood. When comparing the present findings with previous results from athletes (Gromeier et al., 2017), one has to note that extracurricular and physical school education are not comparably effective. Moreover, the present results suggest a need to improve physical education if motor skill learning is not backed-up by club sport.