Sports performance and systems theories

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1	Sports performance is multifactorial. Due to its complex, dynamic, and multidimensional nature, this phenomena should be considered trough an adoption of a holistic perspective, as proposed by the systems theories.	Thayse Natacha Gomes	+ 369 word(s)	369	2020-09-13 00:49:15	\|
2	format correct	Karina Chen	Meta information modification	369	2020-10-26 10:19:55	\|

The purpose is to present a brief idea about the understanding of sports performance through the lens of systems theories.

Sports performance Systems theories Performance

Sports performance is a multifactorial trait resulting from the interplay of individual, environmental, and task characteristics ^[1]. Due to its complex, dynamic, and multidimensional nature^[2], understanding the performance variability among athletes requires the adoption of a holistic perspective, that considers the integration of the levels, interacting at different scales during the performance.

The idea that performance is determined by genes, i.e., that athletes are born to be succeed^[3] is one of the most complex and enduring controversial debates in sports science. However, previous studies have shown that beyond athlete’s characteristics (such as physiological index and traits, anthropometric variables, training commitment), it should also be considered the pivotal role of environmental constraints when analysing sports performance^[4]^[5].

Indeed, one of the most neglected aspects, when studying sports performance, is the “external environment”, which comprises, for example, the financial support, sociodemographic variables, training facilities, and local public policies. In this context, studies have reported an apparent relationship between gross domestic product, population size, and human development index with international sports success^[6]^[7]^[8], even in sports where the “economic factor” is not usually signaled as a determinant^[9]^[10]. Bosscher, et al. ^[11] highlight that sports success is influenced by a set of variables hierarchically organized into three interacting systems, namely: the “micro-level” (individual characteristics), “meso-level” (public policies), and “macro-level” (sociodemographic characteristics, cultural aspects). Focusing on the “meso-level”, a conceptual model composed of 9 pillars was developed, involving factors that can be promoted through public policies in the medium and long term^[12]. Such an approach amplified the discussion related to how sports success can be developed. Especially at an international level, the spotlight has moved from “who has more financial resources?” to 1) “how the available resources are oriented for high sports performance?” and mainly 2) “how much, and how is performed the investment of available resources for sport promotion and development?”.

Despite advances in theoretical and practical approaches allied with an increased understanding of variables that predict sports success, the answer for the question “what does determine sports performance”, still remains unknown, meaning that the unpredictability in sport persists as its striking feature.

References

Cote, J.; Macdonald, D.J.; Baker, J.; Abernethy, B. When "where" is more important than "when": birthplace and birthdate effects on the achievement of sporting expertise. J Sports Sci 2006, 24, 1065-1073, doi:10.1080/02640410500432490.
Sonnentag, S.; Frese, M. Performance Concepts and Performance Theory. In Psychological Management of Individual Performance, John Wiley & Sons, L., Ed. 2005; 10.1002/0470013419.ch1pp. 4 - 26.
Bondareva, E.A.; Negasheva, M.A. Genetic aspects of athletic performance and sports selection. Biology Bulletin Reviews 2017, 7, 344-353, doi:10.1134/s2079086417040028.
Smith, T.J. Variability in Human Performance – the Roles of Context Specificity and Closed-Loop Control. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2014, 58, 979-983, doi:10.1177/1541931214581205.
Wright, C.; Carling, C.; Collins, D. The wider context of performance analysis and it application in the football coaching process. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport 2014, 14.
Vagenas, G.; Vlachokyriakou, E. Olympic medals and demo-economic factors: Novel predictors, the ex-host effect, the exact role of team size, and the “population-GDP” model revisited. Sport Management Review 2012, 15, 211-217, doi:10.1016/j.smr.2011.07.001.
Neto, E.T.d.O.; Bertussi, G.L. Do que é feito um país campeão? Análise empírica de determinantes sociais e econômicos para o sucesso olímpico. Nova Economia 2015, 25, 325-342, doi:10.1590/0103-6351/.
Jayantha, K.; Ubayachandra, E.G. Going for gold medals: factors affecting olympic performance. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications 2015, 5.
Thuany, M.; Gomes, T.N.; Souza, R.F.; Almeida, M. Onde estão os melhores corredores do Brasil? Dados não publicados, 2020.
Santos, P.A.; Sousa, C.V.; da Silva Aguiar, S.; Knechtle, B.; Nikolaidis, P.T.; Sales, M.M.; dos Santos Rosa, T.; de Deus, L.A.; Campbell, C.S.G.; de Sousa, H.G., et al. Human Development Index and the frequency of nations in Athletics World Rankings. Sport Sciences for Health 2019, 15, 393-398, doi:10.1007/s11332-019-00529-1.
Bosscher, V.D.; Shibli, S.; Bottenburg, M.v.; Truyens, P.D.K.a.J. Developing a method for comparing the elite sport systems and policies of nations: a mixed research methods approach. Journal of Sport Management 2010.
Bohme, M.T.S.; Bastos, F.d.C. Esporte de alto rendimento: fatores críticos de sucesso - gestão - identificação de talentos, 1 ed.; Phorte: São Paulo, 2016; pp. 360.

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Subjects: Sport Sciences

Contributors MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :

Thayse Natacha Gomes

Mabliny Thuany

Sara Pereira

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Update Date: 26 Oct 2020

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