Key result
Participation in organized sports by athletes under 14 is associated with favorable anthropometric characteristics compared to non-participating peers across 30 reviewed studies.
This review highlights that young athletes under 14 have favorable anthropometric traits compared to non-athletes, and emphasizes maturation as a key covariant in talent development.
Caution advised in youth athlete selection; leaves open causal effects versus maturation bias.
Anthropometrics, Physical Characteristics, Physiological Attributes, and Sport-Specific Skills in Under-14 Athletes Involved in Early Phases of Talent Development – A Review The main purpose of this article was to review a series of studies (n=30) on anthropometrics, physical characteristics, physiological attributes, and sport-specific skills in athletes under the age of 14 involved in early phases of talent development. Among the main findings of this review were that (a) young athletes have favorable anthropometric characteristics when compared to their peers who do not participate in organized sports, (b) comparing athletes of different skill levels leads to contradictory findings, and (c) the level of maturation is an important covariant in children under the age of 14. A number of practical implications were suggested for researchers and practitioners involved in early phases of talent development.
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Gal Ziv Ronnie Lidor (2014) conducted a review in Early phases of talent development in sports (n=30). Organized sports participation vs. No participation in organized sports was evaluated on Anthropometric characteristics. Participation in organized sports by athletes under 14 is associated with favorable anthropometric characteristics compared to non-participating peers across 30 reviewed studies.
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