Research Behind the Program
Key conclusions of the Pyramid
The key points are similar to those of the pyramid model:
Children should be exposed to and develop a wide base of FMS early in life to serve as a solid foundation for future movement activities.
Without such a repertoire, individuals encounter a proficiency barrier that hinders their ability to become skilled performers.
The more skills people develop early in life, the more “degrees of freedom” they have to participate in, be successful in, and enjoy a wide variety of sports. They have more options to move. (Branta 2010)
Early Specialization
Children who specialize early in a sport will most likely not develop a wide variety of FMS.
They will probably practice only those skills necessary for their specific sport and will miss the chance to acquire a multitude of FMS important to participating in a range of physical activities later in life.
(Branta 2010)
For example, if children specialize only in soccer, they will develop proficiency in skills such as running, kicking, foot dribbling, and agility. However, they may not learn skills such as throwing, catching, jumping, and sliding that is required in other sports and soccer as they progress into playing competitively EG, Jumping for a header, catching a ball as a goalkeeper. It is harder to acquire the FMS in the later teen to early-adult years than during childhood.
Children who specialize before developing their base of FMS and before having a variety of experiences in movement games and sports may miss out on opportunities later in life or have more difficulty leading a physically active lifestyle as adults.
Branta, C. (2010) Sport Specialization- Developmental and Learning Issues. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 81.8:(pg19)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07303084.2010.10598521?needAccess=true
Key Conclusions
Based on the hierarchy of fundamental motor skills there are key skills that need to be developed and progressed before you even ask children to combine skills and play small, sided games.
This is where most junior sports programs fail the children that participate in them especially in the early development age group of 3-6.
Expectations of the children are too high- we expect them to be able to play sports without really breaking down the key motor skills needed to perform them.
Key motor skills are neglected through early specialization.
Motor skills are intrinsically linked, for example, a child who can balance has a better chance at succeeding when asked to pivot and rotate. a child who has been taught how to balance and rotate will have a greater chance at succeeding when they are asked to manipulate and move with a ball (dribble) one skill links to another.
