Patterns of Sport Participation in Portuguese Volleyball Players According to Expertise Level and Gender

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Patrícia Coutinho (Author) FADEUP; Isabel Mesquita (Author) FADEUP; Antonio M Fonseca (Author) FADEUP; Luciana De Martin Silva (Author) Other

Journal

Title: International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching

Vol. 9 No. 4

Pages: 579-592

ISSN: 1747-9541

Publisher: SAGE

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Social sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-W4D

DOI: 10.1260/1747-9541.9.4.579

Abstract (EN): This study aimed to examine the sport participation of 229 Portuguese volleyball players through a previously validated questionnaire within different stages of their development and considering their expertise level and gender. The skilled players differed from the less skilled in having accrued more hours of training throughout all stages. Female players reported less early sport involvement (fewer number of sports practiced and less involvement in team sports and competitions) than males. The early involvement in individual sports by skilled female players seems to be important in their route to expertise, while the later involvement in individual sports by less-skilled male players possibly indicates the need for other motivational sport experiences. These particular findings provide valuable information to guide the designs of Portuguese volleyball players' development considering gender and expertise at the same time. However, additional work is needed to understand to what extent these findings may be system, culture or sport dependent.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14