Search results for "athletic development"

Early involvement and pathway specialization : a dropout track in cross-country skiing?

2013

Early sport specialization is often criticized for its potential to impair long-term athletic development. One of the most frequently cited consequences is dropout from further sport participation. Early diversification, within the Developmental Model of Sport Participation (DMSP), postulates that early sampling of various sports and late specialization should result in fewer dropouts. Still, empirical evidence supporting this claim remains scarce. The purpose of this study was to examine dropout rates among Finnish elite youth skiers in relationship to: (a) their developmental pathways, (b) age of first involvement with organized cross-country skiing, and (c) first encounter with organized…