Key Factor #2: Early Specialization and Late Specialization
- Sports
are classified as either early or late specialization. Early
specialization sports require highly complex skills that cannot be fully
mastered if they are taught after maturation. Gymnastics, figure
skating, and diving are examples of early specialization sports. Most
sports, and almost all Special Olympics sports, are late specialization
sports.
- Individuals with an intellectual disability seem to enter physical activity and sport later than the general population.
- Participants
may be involved in generic sport programs until a certain age and
register in Special Olympics Programs when they can no longer keep up
with their peers.
- Many Special Olympics programs do not start until after the age of 8.
- Athletes
who enter a sport early should follow a program based on the LTAD plan
developed by the NSO, but modified to reflect their particular needs,
making sure that all basic sport skills are developed to ensure physical
literacy.
- Recommendation: Participants
need to be introduced to sport at an early age to build physical
literacy and develop the sport skills they need to participate in early
or late specialization sports, allowing the individual to enjoy active
for life sport or to pursue competitive sport based on interest and
aptitude.
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