By Jennifer Roth
(July 27, 2021)
As coaches, we try to help our athletes develop new skills and feel successful in sport while still making sure each player is having fun. So how can we make it easier for athletes to learn new skills and feel successful? One solution is to modify the equipment and rules of the sport to match the developmental stage of the athletes.
Modified Youth Sports
Modified youth sports involve developmentally appropriate equipment, competition, rules, and physical space that, taken together, increase opportunities for children to learn skills and stay involved in the action (Hill & Green, 2008). Based on a constraints-led approach, modified youth sports include changes to task-related constraints (rules, goals, and equipment) to better match the individual’s physical and psychological characteristics. For example, in basketball the height of the hoop is lowered for the youngest athletes to match their level of strength. Similarly, in soccer the field (or play area) is smaller for the younger athletes who also play with a smaller ball.
Many sports have begun using modified equipment and rules in recent years. For example, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) developed the “10 & Under” program, now called Net Generation, which utilizes smaller, lighter rackets, less compressed tennis balls, shorter net heights, and smaller court sizes. The modified equipment is easier for children to use as their strength and height is taken into consideration. For example, a smaller, lighter racket is easier to swing and a less compressed ball bounces within the lower strike zone of a child. With adult equipment, the racket is too heavy and the bounce of the ball is too high which can lead to undesirable techniques in youth players just trying to hit the ball successfully. Other sports, such as US Soccer and Hockey, have also modified their sport for the youngest age groups.
While some coaches welcome the use of modified equipment and rules for youth, others are still hesitant to adopt this approach. In fact, some believe that modifying the sport is an inferior format and that the best athletes should use regulation equipment as soon as possible. However, an increasing amount of research on modified sport suggests that more success and correct skill acquisition happen when children use modified equipment compared to adult equipment. A few studies are summarized below.
Forehand Groundstroke in Tennis
Buszard, Farrow, Reid, and Masters (2014) compared the effects of racket size and ball compression level on forehand groundstroke success in youth tennis players. Using three racket sizes and three levels of tennis ball compression, the researchers observed more successful forehands when youth participants used the smallest racket and the least compressed ball (which bounced the lowest). Not only did players have more success, they also used the correct technique more often. They were more likely to swing the racket low-to-high and strike the tennis ball in front and to the side of the body when playing with the modified equipment.
Shooting in Basketball
Modifying equipment may also lead to a better shot performance in basketball. Arias, Argudo, and Alonso (2012) observed 54 children, ages 9-11, playing basketball games with three balls that differed in mass (light, regulation, heavy). Not surprisingly, the children attempted and made more shots when they played with the lightest basketball. Not only were they able to practice shooting more often in the game, but they also had more successful shots compared to when they played with the regular or heavier basketball.
Puck Control in Hockey
The benefits of modifying sport are not only for children. In hockey, Stone, Nimmins, and Strafford (2018) had over 50 participants, with an average age of 22 years, complete an obstacle course and take a shot against a goalkeeper with three different puck masses. The least skilled participants completed the obstacle course quicker with fewer errors when using the lightest puck. They also had more goal-scoring success with the lightest hockey puck.
Overall
While this is just a sample of the research on modified sport, the majority of studies show that participants have better skill performance when playing with modified equipment and play areas in a range of sports such as basketball, cricket, tennis, and volleyball (Buszard, Reid, Masters, and Farrow, 2016). In addition, participants reported greater engagement and enjoyment when using modified equipment as compared to standard equipment.
How Does This Research Apply to You?
As a coach, you have the opportunity to use modified equipment, play areas, and rules in a way that will benefit your athletes. Not only is modified sport related to skill development, but it also leads to more enjoyment and engagement with athletes. This is important because feeling success, learning new skills, and having fun are what keeps kids involved in sports.
- Try it Out: While the research is still growing in this area, it may be time to start experimenting with different equipment and play areas to find out what works best for your athletes’ skill development. Try decreasing field size, increasing ball size, etc. and see how the athletes react.
- Know the Current Guidelines: Many sports already have rules and guidelines for using modified equipment when teaching the youngest age groups, make sure you know how to use those guidelines.
- Understand Developmental Differences: Children develop at different rates so stay aware of when a child is ready to use different sized equipment and play areas, or when new rules would further enhance their development.
- Consider Modified Sport for Beginners at Any Age: When working with beginners at any age, don’t be afraid to start their skill development with modified equipment. Using modified equipment can help them focus on the correct technique without some of the barriers that come with adult equipment. They may learn the correct techniques easier while enjoying more success, keeping them in the sport longer.
References
Hill, B., & Green, B. C. (2008). Give the bench the boot! Using manning theory to design youth-sport programs. Journal of Sport Management, 22(2), 184-204.
Buszard, T., Farrow, D., Reid, M., & Masters, R. S. (2014). Modifying equipment in early skill development: A tennis perspective. Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 85(2), 218-225.
Arias, J. L., Argudo, F. M., & Alonso, J. I. (2012). Effect of ball mass on dribble, pass, and pass reception in 9–11-year-old boys’ basketball. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 83(3), 407-412.
Stone, J., Nimmins, J., & Strafford, B. (2018). Effect of puck mass as a task constraints on skilled and less-skilled ice hockey players performance. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 7(1), 1-20.
Buszard, T., Reid, M., Masters, R., & Farrow, D. (2016). Scaling the equipment and play area in children’s sport to improve motor skill acquisition: A systematic review. Sports medicine, 46(6), 829-843
