In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in examining the determining factors for excellence in sports performance. Sports excellence results from the complex interaction between biological, physical, psychological, and sociological markers, which starts to be enhanced and stimulated from an early age. Furthermore, exceptional performance requires a considerable amount of experience, and so the question inevitably arises: should coaches favor early specialization or long-term development?
In this regard, there are still numerous doubts and questions regarding the type of approach that should be preferred throughout the training process, considering the potential impact of this choice in order to achieve excellence. Thus, the coach's choice regarding the intervention model can play a fundamental role in enhancing sports talent and, therefore, should be carefully analyzed.
Thus, a more in-depth analysis of the dose-response effect is necessary, regarding the coaches’ decisions concerning the choice of development model for their athletes in the different sports. In addition, it would be pertinent to understand the variations between the models with regard to factors such as the degree of maturation and changes in the anatomical, neurological, hormonal, and musculoskeletal structure, which must be considered in the training methodology during childhood and adolescence.
Considering that more research needs to be conducted and published on these relevant topics, the purpose of this Research Topic on "Coaches' Role in Youth Sports Performance: Early Specialization Versus Long-Term Development" is to publish high-quality original research, systematic reviews, and narratives focused on the area of sports talent development models, windows of optimal trainability, training processes, analysis of physical, physiological and cognitive indicators with a focus on the development of sports talent to achieve excellence. It is critical that coaches understand the generic and derived principles of both models in order to adapt them to the individual needs of their athletes.
From a methodological point of view, manuscripts must contain the analysis/use of physiological, physical, and cognitive variables, which can focus on individual or collective modalities. In addition, the authors should try to present practical applications based on their findings and substantiated in the most recent literature, which helps to clarify the role of the coach in youth sports performance, through the use of Early Specialization or Long-Term Development models.
In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in examining the determining factors for excellence in sports performance. Sports excellence results from the complex interaction between biological, physical, psychological, and sociological markers, which starts to be enhanced and stimulated from an early age. Furthermore, exceptional performance requires a considerable amount of experience, and so the question inevitably arises: should coaches favor early specialization or long-term development?
In this regard, there are still numerous doubts and questions regarding the type of approach that should be preferred throughout the training process, considering the potential impact of this choice in order to achieve excellence. Thus, the coach's choice regarding the intervention model can play a fundamental role in enhancing sports talent and, therefore, should be carefully analyzed.
Thus, a more in-depth analysis of the dose-response effect is necessary, regarding the coaches’ decisions concerning the choice of development model for their athletes in the different sports. In addition, it would be pertinent to understand the variations between the models with regard to factors such as the degree of maturation and changes in the anatomical, neurological, hormonal, and musculoskeletal structure, which must be considered in the training methodology during childhood and adolescence.
Considering that more research needs to be conducted and published on these relevant topics, the purpose of this Research Topic on "Coaches' Role in Youth Sports Performance: Early Specialization Versus Long-Term Development" is to publish high-quality original research, systematic reviews, and narratives focused on the area of sports talent development models, windows of optimal trainability, training processes, analysis of physical, physiological and cognitive indicators with a focus on the development of sports talent to achieve excellence. It is critical that coaches understand the generic and derived principles of both models in order to adapt them to the individual needs of their athletes.
From a methodological point of view, manuscripts must contain the analysis/use of physiological, physical, and cognitive variables, which can focus on individual or collective modalities. In addition, the authors should try to present practical applications based on their findings and substantiated in the most recent literature, which helps to clarify the role of the coach in youth sports performance, through the use of Early Specialization or Long-Term Development models.
