title: Anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness and motor coordination of 9 to 11 year old children participating in a wide range of sports.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent 9 to 11 year old children participating in a specific sport already exhibit a specific anthropometric, physical fitness and motor coordination profile, in line with the requirements of that particular sport. In addition, the profiles in children with a different training volume were compared and possible differences in training hours per week between children from a low, moderate, and high level of physical fitness and motor coordination were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data of 620 children, 347 boys and 273 girls, who participated in the Flemish Sports Compass were used. Only the primary sport of each child was considered and six groups of sports (Ball sports, Dance, Gymnastics, Martial arts, Racquet sports and Swimming) were formed based on common characteristics. Measurements consisted of 17 tests. Independent T-tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests revealed few differences between the groups of sports and the discriminant analyses with the moderate and low active group did not show any significant results (p > .05). However, when discriminating among the high active children, a 85.2 % correct classification between six groups of sports was found (Wilks' Λ = .137 and p < .001). Finally, children performing under average on the tests spent significantly fewer hours in sport per week (2.50 ± 1.84 hours) compared to the children performing best (3.25 ± 2.60 hours) (p = .016) and the children performing above average (2.90 ± 1.96 hours) (p = .029) on physical fitness and motor coordination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that in general, children at a young age do not exhibit sport-specific characteristics, except in children with a high training volume. It is possible that on the one hand, children have not spent enough time yet in their sport to develop sport-specific qualities. On the other hand, it could be possible that they do not take individual qualities into account when choosing a sport.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Exercise Studies, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of Applied Sciences Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Katrijn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Opstoel
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pion
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Exercise Studies, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of Applied Sciences Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marije
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elferink-Gemser
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Exercise Studies, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of Applied Sciences Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willemse
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Renaat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Philippaerts
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Visscher
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenoir
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*