Humans prefer to use a limb rather than the other, and not always the same for different tasks. Furthermore, people show a variable functional asymmetry: somebody is markedly right- or left-sided when performing different tasks, while others show various degrees of mixed laterality (Greenwood, 2007). Aim of this study is to investigate the lateral choices among young athletes practicing different sports. 390 young athletes (M: 234; F156) practicing sport in Emilia-Romagna and Abruzzo, Italy, aged 11-14 were divided in eight sport groups: Soccer, Athletics, Volleyball, Basketball, Other Team Sports (OTS: Rugby, Handball, Water Polo), Individual Sports (IS: Triathlon, Gymnastics, Swimming, Roller Skating, Rowing), Combat Sports (CS: Judo, Karate, Wrestling), Sport requiring a lateral choice (SLC: Fencing, Tennis). Different tasks were used (performance test) to assess lateral choices: 11 tasks for the hand, 4 for the foot, 5 for twist rotation. Lateral choices were assessed following two criteria: first, noting the side used by the subjects in writing, throwing or kicking a ball; second, computing an index, taking into account the number of right and left performances for all the tasks. In this case subjects choosing the right or left side in all the tasks (or all except one) were considered right or left sided; the other subjects were considered and named “inconsistent”. Writing, throwing and kicking sidedness data were then reported for each sport or sport groups such as frequency and percentage of subjects right, left or inconsistent in hand, foot and twist choices among these sport categories. Lefthanders in writing and throwing are highly represented in SLC (15% of the sample and 11% respectively) and volleyball (11%); in kicking, OTS is the highest represented category with left choices (29%), followed by basketball and soccer (23%). Hand, foot and twist sidedness are then described for each considered sport or sport group. Lefthanders are highly represented in volleyball and SLC (8%), inconsistent in OTS (22%). Left footed are mostly represented in SLC (30%), CS and soccer (21%); inconsistent in soccer (26%), IS and volleyball (23%). Left twisters are numerous in SLC (33%) and athletics (18%); inconsistent in OTS (76%) and IS (75%). Left-handed and left-footed are highly represented in SLC, CS and soccer. This could be due to selection factors and training tactical and strategic choices, according with Groius et al.(2000). Inconsistents are prevalent in OTS for the hand, in soccer for the foot and in all the sports involving twist direction.
Semprini G., Ciacci S., Ceciliani A., Di Michele R., Merni F. (2010). YOUNG ATHLETES AND LATERAL CHOICES IN DIFFERENT SPORTS. LJUBLJANA : Kovač m, Jurak G., Starc G., Faculty of Sport Lj.
YOUNG ATHLETES AND LATERAL CHOICES IN DIFFERENT SPORTS
SEMPRINI, GABRIELE;CIACCI, SIMONE;CECILIANI, ANDREA;DI MICHELE, ROCCO;MERNI, FRANCO
2010
Abstract
Humans prefer to use a limb rather than the other, and not always the same for different tasks. Furthermore, people show a variable functional asymmetry: somebody is markedly right- or left-sided when performing different tasks, while others show various degrees of mixed laterality (Greenwood, 2007). Aim of this study is to investigate the lateral choices among young athletes practicing different sports. 390 young athletes (M: 234; F156) practicing sport in Emilia-Romagna and Abruzzo, Italy, aged 11-14 were divided in eight sport groups: Soccer, Athletics, Volleyball, Basketball, Other Team Sports (OTS: Rugby, Handball, Water Polo), Individual Sports (IS: Triathlon, Gymnastics, Swimming, Roller Skating, Rowing), Combat Sports (CS: Judo, Karate, Wrestling), Sport requiring a lateral choice (SLC: Fencing, Tennis). Different tasks were used (performance test) to assess lateral choices: 11 tasks for the hand, 4 for the foot, 5 for twist rotation. Lateral choices were assessed following two criteria: first, noting the side used by the subjects in writing, throwing or kicking a ball; second, computing an index, taking into account the number of right and left performances for all the tasks. In this case subjects choosing the right or left side in all the tasks (or all except one) were considered right or left sided; the other subjects were considered and named “inconsistent”. Writing, throwing and kicking sidedness data were then reported for each sport or sport groups such as frequency and percentage of subjects right, left or inconsistent in hand, foot and twist choices among these sport categories. Lefthanders in writing and throwing are highly represented in SLC (15% of the sample and 11% respectively) and volleyball (11%); in kicking, OTS is the highest represented category with left choices (29%), followed by basketball and soccer (23%). Hand, foot and twist sidedness are then described for each considered sport or sport group. Lefthanders are highly represented in volleyball and SLC (8%), inconsistent in OTS (22%). Left footed are mostly represented in SLC (30%), CS and soccer (21%); inconsistent in soccer (26%), IS and volleyball (23%). Left twisters are numerous in SLC (33%) and athletics (18%); inconsistent in OTS (76%) and IS (75%). Left-handed and left-footed are highly represented in SLC, CS and soccer. This could be due to selection factors and training tactical and strategic choices, according with Groius et al.(2000). Inconsistents are prevalent in OTS for the hand, in soccer for the foot and in all the sports involving twist direction.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
