Helping parents choose a sport for their children. Testing a child's sports abilities: what is needed, how to pass, help for parents What are testing centers and how does it work

Choosing a sport for a child is not an easy task. Someone cannot give preference to one section, because their head is a mess of many attractive sports, and someone really wants to send their child, say, to hockey, but does not know whether it is suitable for the child. And it’s not just a matter of “likes” and “dislikes.” To correctly figure out where to send your son or daughter, you need to take other parameters into account.

What are testing centers and how do they work?

This Moskomsport project, which helps determine what sports a child is predisposed to, has been operating in the capital for about a year. There are 11 testing centers in Moscow where they will help you choose the right sport for your child completely free of charge. To undergo simple but very important tests, you will need to first obtain a certificate from your pediatrician stating that your child is allowed to engage in physical activity, as well as sign up for testing and grab a sports uniform for the child.

Testing lasts no more than 2 hours. Accepts children aged 6-12 years.

What does the procedure consist of?

The child performs physical and psychological tasks. At the end, you are given a large list of sports, from the most suitable to those for which your child, for some reason, is not yet ready.
There are two options for taking the test. In addition to contacting a specialized center, you can arrange a similar test yourself.

Professional testing.

A comprehensive examination at testing centers consists of psychophysiological, anthropometric, sports and functional studies. Let's figure out what's hidden under these names.

• Psychophysiological testing

It includes tests for attention, reaction speed, memory, as well as the study of individual characteristics and determination of the type of temperament. The examinations take place quite quickly and are more like a game: click faster, find, build a sequence, and the like. However, the results of this stage are very important, because they largely determine whether the child will enjoy the chosen sport.

• Anthropometric study

This is a measurement of physical condition indicators. You can often hear a phrase like this: “You don’t become a footballer, you are born.” Instead of the word “footballer” you can insert any other word. The fact is that the indicators laid down by nature directly determine the propensity for any sport. Here, your child will not only have his height measured and his weight determined, but also his blood pressure will be taken, body diameters will be measured, and the shape of the chest, back, and the thickness of the skin and fat folds will be determined.

• Functional testing

Here components such as endurance, performance, and the ability to maintain balance are determined.
The test consists of the Ruffier test, Step test, PWC 170, Romberg test. Let's explain what this means.

1. Rufier's test determines the performance of the heart during physical activity. The child's pulse is measured 3 times: at rest and lying on his back, immediately after performing 30 squats in 45 seconds and about a minute later (also in a lying position). Based on this, the endurance indicator is calculated.
2. Step test determines the endurance of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. What it consists of: you need to climb onto the step platform for several minutes at a given pace and lower back down. It then measures how quickly the heart rate recovers.
3. PWC 170- gradually increase the load until the heart rate reaches 170 per minute. This determines overall performance.
4. Romberg test reveals the ability to maintain balance with eyes closed and shows the state of the vestibular apparatus and coordination abilities. Performed on a special platform.

• Sports testing

At this stage, the child will perform key physical exercises: standing long jump, high jump, twisting straight arms back and forth (the child holds a gymnastic stick in his hands and tries to twist, placing his hands as close to each other as possible), bending forward from a sitting position, shuttle run (3 times 10 meters each), 15 meter run, throwing and catching the ball after the rebound in pairs, pull-ups on a high bar. The number of tests and their indicators, of course, depend on the gender and age of the child.

Online testing

This is a very good option for those who do not live in Moscow. To get through this testing it will take about half an hour. You will need to enter the height, weight, age of the child, and, if desired, the height of the parents in order to predict what your child will be like in the near future. Next, you will see a list of sports tests that your child needs to complete. A description is attached to each item. Some tests come with short videos showing how to complete the exercise.

The child will have simple exercises: squats, shuttle runs, push-ups from a bench, 15-meter run, bending over from a lying position, twisting straight arms, a speed test (click the mouse as quickly as possible when a sound signal appears), and you can also conduct the test yourself Ruffier. Again, the number of tests offered depends on the age stated.

The advantage of this option is that you can participate in it here and now. But a more complete, professional and versatile study, of course, is carried out in testing centers. You can only measure the child’s physical indicators on your own, but it is important to understand what he is inclined to purely psychologically and where he will be more pleased to exercise due to his physique.

Many parents willingly send their children to sports clubs and clubs. In most cases, the choice of sport turns out to be random and does not at all guarantee any success in the future. Special testing based on an in-depth analysis of various physical and psychological parameters will help you find out what your natural abilities really are. With this procedure, parents will be able to understand which type of sport is most suitable.

Why testing is necessary

Comprehensive testing of a child’s abilities is necessary to identify predisposition to a particular type of activity. Usually, when assigning a child to a section, parents are based on the following factors:

• child's sympathy;
• parents' sympathy;
• continuity of generations (one of the parents plays sports);
• imitation of an idol from the world of sports;
• proximity of the section to home or school;
• convenient schedule.

These and similar reasons cannot guarantee success in the chosen sport. In each type of sports activity, certain skills are valued and applied. For example: speed in athletics, flexibility and plasticity in, attention and reaction in tennis, strength parameters in weightlifting. A specialized coach can also give a preliminary assessment of a child’s potential. However, modern techniques make it possible to solve this problem in a comprehensive manner, and therefore more effectively.

Ability testing will be able to evaluate natural abilities and compare them with existing sports areas. The procedure may include all or more of these tests:

1. Psychological testing.
2. Anthropometry.
3. Functional testing.
4. Sports testing.
5. Biometric (fingerprint).

A number of tests can be taken online, on specialized resources. These include tasks for psychological and functional testing. If you wish to undergo a more extensive study, under the guidance of specialists, you can contact special centers.

Advice. You can find such institutions online or seek advice from the administration of a regular or sports school.

Psychological testing

Using written tests and oral questions, the specialist determines the type of temperament, and also tests the ability to:

• concentration and ability to maintain attention;
• speed and accuracy of reaction;
• presence of leadership qualities;
• ability for team interaction.

Anthropometry

At this stage, measurements are taken of such parameters as height, weight, length of legs and arms, girths of various parts of the body. The size of the skin-fat fold is measured. To identify a predisposition to the formation of flat feet, a scan of the arch of the foot is performed. Also, the shape of the chest, the condition of the back and spine are typified. As part of this stage, the child must also pass some strength tests, for example, an electronic wrist expander dynamometer.

Functional testing

This course includes various tasks and tests conducted on special equipment under the guidance of an expert. As a result of this group of tests, the level of coordination, concentration on a task, development of the vestibular apparatus, speed of thinking and other parameters are determined.

Sports testing

The final stage is an analysis of physical condition and preparation. This test includes several tasks, such as:

• running against the clock;
• shuttle run;
• jumping;
• other physical exercises.

Attention! The result of the stage largely depends on how much the child understands the essence of the task. Parents are advised to monitor this and advise their child to be attentive during the testing process.

Biometric test

Such a survey is not exhaustive and refers to additional, alternative. You can undergo it in specialized centers. The procedure includes scanning the fingertips, subsequent data processing and issuance of ability testing results. In addition to a predisposition to a particular sport, such an analysis determines character traits and psychotype.

Test results

A comprehensive examination takes from 1.5 to 2 hours. During the assessment process, the correspondence of the level of development of the subject with the average indicators for the region is compared. The obtained data is compared with those required for various types of sports. Parents receive a document containing lists of sports activities and the percentage level of the child’s preparation for them.

An indicator from 67 to 100% indicates a predisposition to this type. The result is within 51-6%, indicating that the subject fell within the upper limit of the norm. If there is no ability in this sport, the result will be below 33%. Those sports where the result is from 33 to 50% are considered neutral.

The results of the procedure are advisory in nature. Having a high level of aptitude for any sport does not oblige the child to be admitted to a sports school. This analysis is intended to identify and outline the range of abilities for their subsequent implementation.

Testing to determine a child’s predisposition to a particular sporting activity is a useful practical activity for everyone. By passing such a test as part of a school or independent study, parents have the opportunity to identify an aptitude for sports at an early stage. Despite its advisory nature, the procedure quite accurately determines priorities, thanks to the scientific method of research.

You can find out in more detail about each stage, as well as the purposes and methods of testing abilities, on the websites of the centers, as well as in educational institutions. There are many video and photo materials on this topic on the Internet.

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