Efficiency In Kinesiology across developmental age and youth individual sport performance. Innovative Approaches to Enhance Motor Skills

The Chapters within this dissertation are not interconnected by methodological commonalities, but rather bound by a shared conceptual ethos. Each investigation, while distinctive in its subject matter, adheres to a broader commitment, namely the pursuit of novel approaches in enhancing motor skills during developmental years, both regarding general motor proficiency as well as athletic performance. In doing so, this thesis aspires to not only enrich academic discourse but, more crucially, to empower practitioners (teachers, educators, trainers) in their respective field of expertise. This unified framework is the main effort of my thesis, the driving force that underscores my research endeavors. Within this conceptual tapestry, each Chapter contributes as a subordinate effort, weaving its content while aligning with the main effort. Still, there are some recurrent and consistent elements I adopt throughout this varied dissertation, which are the ecological, lab-independent, cost- effectiveness, and quasi-non-invasive approaches. By adopting an ecological perspective, I seek to mirror real-world scenarios, ensuring that findings resonate with the practicalities of diverse settings. The lab-independent approach signifies a departure from confined laboratory setups, embracing a broader canvas that mimics the dynamic and unscripted nature of real-world motor skill acquisition. The emphasis on cost-effectiveness aligns with the imperative of resource optimization, acknowledging the practical constraints often faced by educators and coaches. The commitment to quasi non-invasive methodologies underscores the ethical considerations inherent in human studies, ensuring that the research interventions remain respectful of the individuals, i.e., almost always children or teenagers, participating in the studies. The presented thesis unfolds on two distinct fronts. The first front is dedicated to the study of enhancing motor proficiency in the context of late childhood, as elucidated in Chapters 2 and 3. Specifically, Chapter 2 explores the intricate relationship between gross and fine motor skills in the context of late childhood, and whether and how leveraging on the gross motor domain could help enhancing fine motor abilities. Chapter 3 is comprised of two experiments, inquiring about the efficacy of segmentary, specific visual instructions for enhancing gross and precision motor tasks, respectively. The second front of this thesis is dedicated to youth individual sport performance, with a focused analysis on track and field (Chapter 4) and swimming (Chapters 5-6), sports were the major bio-motor abilities (i.e., strength, power, stamina) play a paramount role in affecting the final outcome. Specifically, Chapter 4 delves into the nuanced realm of resistance training, utilizing velocity-based techniques to optimize training loads for sprinters. Chapter 5 examines the interplay between maximum force-velocity exertion and swimming performances across various strokes and distances. Chapter 6 investigates the effects of different post-competition recovery protocols and their impact on physio- psychological parameters in national-level youth swimmers. Finally, Chapter 7 closes this thesis by discussing the approach presented here in a general context along with some concluding remarks and possible future directions.