Skating on Thin Ice: Age, Specialization, and Perceived Competence in Youth Hockey
11/25/24 • 26 min
1 Listener
This episode explores a groundbreaking study on the factors influencing perceived competence in young male hockey players in Quebec, Canada. The study examines how age, early sport specialization, player position, and relative age affect how these athletes view their abilities in hockey, both generally and in specific skill areas. This is the first research to analyze these relationships using a validated questionnaire specifically designed to measure perceived competence in hockey.
Key findings reveal that:
● Older players tend to report lower perceived competence in skating, resilience, and offensive abilities. This could be because as players mature, they gain a more realistic understanding of their skills and face increased competition.
● Contrary to some expectations, early sport specialization is positively associated with all measured aspects of perceived competence, both in hockey and in sports generally. This suggests that the time and effort invested in specialized training may lead to genuine skill development and, consequently, greater confidence. However, the episode also acknowledges potential downsides to early specialization, such as overuse injuries and burnout, emphasizing the need for balanced training environments.
● Defensemen report higher perceived competence in strength and power and tactical abilities, while forwards exhibit higher perceived competence in offensive skills. This aligns with the traditional roles and expectations of each position.
● Players born earlier in the selection year tend to have higher perceived competence in strength and power, tactical abilities, and coachability. This supports the existence of a relative age effect in youth hockey, where those with a physical advantage due to earlier birth dates may receive more opportunities and positive reinforcement.
The episode concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for coaches, sports organizations, and players themselves. It highlights the importance of:
● Providing support and encouragement to older players as their perceived competence may decline.
● Creating sport specialization environments that prioritize long-term athlete development and well-being, mitigating the risks associated with intense training.
● Recognizing the relative age effect and ensuring fair opportunities for players born later in the selection year.
● Encouraging players to try different positions and develop a well-rounded skillset.
By understanding the factors that contribute to perceived competence, we can help young athletes develop a positive self-image and reach their full potential in hockey and beyond.
Main source: Perceived competence in ice hockey and its associations with relative age, early sport specialization, and players’ position
Vincent Huard Pelletier, Jean Lemoyne
Front Psychol. 2024; 15: 1336529. Published online 2024 Jan 25. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1336529
PMCID: PMC10850288
This episode explores a groundbreaking study on the factors influencing perceived competence in young male hockey players in Quebec, Canada. The study examines how age, early sport specialization, player position, and relative age affect how these athletes view their abilities in hockey, both generally and in specific skill areas. This is the first research to analyze these relationships using a validated questionnaire specifically designed to measure perceived competence in hockey.
Key findings reveal that:
● Older players tend to report lower perceived competence in skating, resilience, and offensive abilities. This could be because as players mature, they gain a more realistic understanding of their skills and face increased competition.
● Contrary to some expectations, early sport specialization is positively associated with all measured aspects of perceived competence, both in hockey and in sports generally. This suggests that the time and effort invested in specialized training may lead to genuine skill development and, consequently, greater confidence. However, the episode also acknowledges potential downsides to early specialization, such as overuse injuries and burnout, emphasizing the need for balanced training environments.
● Defensemen report higher perceived competence in strength and power and tactical abilities, while forwards exhibit higher perceived competence in offensive skills. This aligns with the traditional roles and expectations of each position.
● Players born earlier in the selection year tend to have higher perceived competence in strength and power, tactical abilities, and coachability. This supports the existence of a relative age effect in youth hockey, where those with a physical advantage due to earlier birth dates may receive more opportunities and positive reinforcement.
The episode concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for coaches, sports organizations, and players themselves. It highlights the importance of:
● Providing support and encouragement to older players as their perceived competence may decline.
● Creating sport specialization environments that prioritize long-term athlete development and well-being, mitigating the risks associated with intense training.
● Recognizing the relative age effect and ensuring fair opportunities for players born later in the selection year.
● Encouraging players to try different positions and develop a well-rounded skillset.
By understanding the factors that contribute to perceived competence, we can help young athletes develop a positive self-image and reach their full potential in hockey and beyond.
Main source: Perceived competence in ice hockey and its associations with relative age, early sport specialization, and players’ position
Vincent Huard Pelletier, Jean Lemoyne
Front Psychol. 2024; 15: 1336529. Published online 2024 Jan 25. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1336529
PMCID: PMC10850288
Previous Episode
Left, Right, Wrong: The Science Behind Holding a Hockey Stick
1 RecommendationsDo you shoot left or right in hockey? Most people assume it aligns with their dominant hand, but in this episode, we uncover the surprising truth behind the “cross-lateral” preference that dominates the sport.
● We explore a study that found a majority of right-handed people actually prefer to shoot left in hockey and vice-versa for lefties.
● Why does this happen? We examine the unique demands of hockey that require both power and control, and how these influence hand placement on the stick.
● The discussion extends beyond hockey to other sports and activities. Are you a golfer who plays "backwards"? We look at how learning one sport can impact how you perform in another, especially when it comes to hand positioning.
● The episode also challenges the common assumption that our dominant eye dictates our athletic performance. The connection between eye dominance and hand placement in hockey turns out to be surprisingly weak.
● Finally, we consider the implications for coaches and athletes. How can understanding lateral preference improve training and talent identification? Could switching a player to the "off-wing" actually unlock their full potential?
This episode is a fascinating exploration of the often-overlooked role of laterality in sports, revealing the complex interplay between our brains and our bodies.
Main source: Linking the preference in a bilateral asymmetric task with handedness, footedness, and eyedness: The case of ice-hockey
Simon Grondin, Daniel Fortin-Guichard, Charles-Anthony Dubeau, Émie Tétreault
PLoS One. 2024; 19(5): e0294125. Published online 2024 May 23. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294125
PMCID: PMC11115253
Next Episode
Talent Id in Hockey: What Makes a Future Star?
The rigorous world of elite youth hockey in Canada and the process of identifying talent in young players. How do male and female players differ? What are the key factors that separate those who are selected for elite teams from those who are not? ● the athlete evaluation process at the Team Quebec development evaluation camp. ● fitness, on-ice skating abilities, and psychological characteristics of male and female adolescent players selected for the camp. ● significant differences in personality traits, with female players scoring higher in extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness. ● For female players, fitness tests, running skills, and skating performance were strong predictors of selection. ● The same protocol was less effective in predicting selection for the male players. ● talent identification protocols may need to be tailored to the specific demands of male and female hockey and the size and homogeneity of the talent pool. This information should help to enhance your understanding of the sources and the key concepts related to talent identification in ice hockey. Main source: Talent Identification in Elite Adolescent Ice Hockey Players: The Discriminant Capacity of Fitness Tests, Skating Performance and Psychological Characteristics Jean Lemoyne, Jean-François Brunelle, Vincent Huard Pelletier, Julien Glaude-Roy, Gaëtan Martini Sports (Basel) 2022 Apr; 10(4): 58. Published online 2022 Apr 8. doi: 10.3390/sports10040058 PMCID: PMC9026156
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