Because of the difficulty in distinguishing different level athletes and looking at sports performance in relation to age and level of maturation, I believe it may be worthwhile to examine what is known as the funnel effect. It is used to describe the progression from the early years of participation in sports through to the high-level and elite athlete.
When you look at a funnel you’ll notice that it has a wide circular opening that gradually decreases in conference to a small opening at the bottom. The wide top layer is used to describe athletes (usually youngsters) who participate in a wide variety of activities and sports.
They typically work on perfecting their skills such as throwing, jumping, kicking, hitting and running while participating in different sports. In addition, these athletes are developing a wide variety of physical abilities, such as strength, speed, flexibility, agility, quickness and many others.
In other words, these athletes are involved in a very wide spectrum of activities to develop their physical abilities that are needed to participate well in sport. As the years go by the number of activities and sports in which they participate gradually decreases as the technical and physical abilities are acquired.
This is depicted on the second layer or section below the top layer. The athlete at this time still needs much technical and physical development but the type and amount gradually decrease. At this time there is more positive transfer of the general and specialized training to game play.
In a third but narrower cross-section of the funnel, the range of activities is decreased even more. The athlete is now more proficient in his technical and physical skills and abilities. He or she has acquired substantial amounts of strength, speed, flexibility, etc. as typically witnessed in a good high school athlete.
In the fourth substantially smaller cross-section of the funnel, we see an athlete who is becoming more proficient in game play, has well-developed physical and technical skills and is capable of doing more specialized work. More specifically, the athlete does more specialized strength exercises that duplicate what occurs in game play.
In other words, the specificity and intensity of the training is increased. There is more work on the technical aspects so that the athlete’s skill technique is commensurate with his physical abilities. At this time we see a uniting of all the training.
This stage should typify the collegiate (mainly the latter years) and to a certain extent, Olympic athlete. It may also include some professional athletes depending upon the sport.
As should be obvious, there is a wide range of abilities at this time as it is still possible to find many athletes who do not fit the high-level athlete description on many collegiate teams. To some extent this can also apply to some professional athletes.
Doing general activities as seen in the first segment of the funnel are of less value at this time. Most of these activities are used for warm-up and/or restoration. Understand that the athlete needs more specialized work so that there will be greater transfer of the training to greater improvement in his game play.
His technique at this time should be well-developed but constantly adjusted when there is a change in the physical abilities, especially as they relate to his technique execution. Most of the training is directed to increases in speed and explosive power rather than pure strength. In essence, it is perfection of their ability to execute the game skills that are of foremost importance in this segment of the tunnel which is fairly narrow.
The bottom layer or narrowest portion of the funnel, is limited to the very high-level and elite athlete. At this time it is mainly the elite athlete who has his technique and physical abilities honed to a very high level.
In order to improve his performance at this time he requires mostly specialized technique and strength exercises since they are basically the main (if not only) exercises that will result in improved competitive play. All other exercises may keep the athlete fit, but they will not improve his performance on the field, ring, cage or court.
For more information on this concept of developing athletic talent see Build a Better Athlete.