Jean Keller *, Jean Marc Lamenoise *, Marc Testa *, Eveline Golomer and Florence Rosey **
(*) Laboratoire GEPECS EA 3625, Université Paris Descartes,Paris, France
(**) CETE-NC, ERA 34, Le Grand-Quevilly, France
Citation
Keller, J., Marc Lamenoise, J., Testa, M., Golomer, E., Rosey, F. (2011). Discontinuity and variability in the development of the overarm throwing skill in 3- to 18-year-old children. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 42(3), 263-277.
Abstract
Changes of coordination of an overarm throw were investigated in 418 children from 3 to 18 years old. Overarm throws were analysed by a stage classification based on five components. The motor development during childhood and adolescence shows discontinuities with a marked improvement between 4 and 6 years of age, followed by an ascendant plateau between 7 and 18 years of age. From 7 to 9 there appears a first stagnation followed by irregular changes (with regression and acceleration) and lastly a second stagnation occurs longer than the previous one. The regression is short and more marked for boys than for girls and overlapping waves induce changes. Variability in coordination reflects the many processes of development by activation and inhibition of the selection of a relevant response.
Keywords: Development, Discontinuity, Throwing skill, Motor patterns, Variability