Anthropometrics, Physical Characteristics, Physiological Attributes, and Sport-Specific Skills in Under-14 Athletes Involved in Early Phases of Talent Development- A Review

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.