This master's thesis addresses the issue of early participation of children in basketball training. Early participation in organized sports activities plays a crucial role in the overall development of children. Despite numerous positive effects, excessive and premature sports specialization, especially when it fails to consider a child’s developmental characteristics, can pose serious
risks such as burnout, injuries, and reduced intrinsic motivation, which may ultimately lead to withdrawal from sports activities. The purpose of this thesis was to present the characteristics of different developmental stages of children, to examine the potential negative consequences of
early specialization, and to develop basic guidelines for working with children.
In the theoretical introduction, the thesis briefly presents the historical development of basketball, and then focuses on the child’s developmental characteristics, including cognitive, motor, psychosocial, and emotional development. It continues by highlighting the benefits of children’s participation in organized sports activities and discusses the concepts of early specialization and early diversification. The final section of the theoretical part introduces various models of athlete development, providing a framework for understanding the long-term athletic
pathways of children and adolescents.
The discussion section focuses on two key aspects: attracting children to basketball training and ensuring their long-term engagement in the training process. Special attention is given to modern theories of motor learning, which are critically examined, including their limitations, and evaluated in terms of their relevance to basketball-specific content. Based on this, the thesis develops a conceptual framework for designing and adapting training units within basketball practice, aiming to illustrate the thought process required for an effective and developmentally appropriate training program.
The thesis emphasizes the complexity of designing training programs and the need for their continuous adaptation to the individual characteristics of children. It underlines the crucial role of understanding motor learning processes as a foundation for delivering high-quality, developmentally appropriate programs. This master's thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the topic and highlights the necessity of a holistic and multidimensional approach to addressing it.
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