Factors Discriminating Gymnasts by Competitive Level

This study examined the relationship between the performance level as evaluated by expert coaches and the results on a multidimensional test battery in female gymnastics. 4 coaches assigned 168 female gymnasts aged 6-8 years into 2 groups (Elite-level potential, n = 103 and Sub-elite-level potential, n = 65) based upon their technical evaluation of the gymnastics abilities on the 4 apparatus. Moreover, anthropometric, physical and coordinative characteristics were assessed. ANOVA with age as fixed factor revealed that results on all aforementioned characteristics, except body fat %, sit-and-reach, rope climbing and a motor coordination test, significantly improved with increasing age. MAN-COVA with competitive level as fixed factor and age and maturity as covariates indicated that all gymnasts portrayed a similar athletic built (Wilks' lambda = 0.95, F = 2.20, p = 0.071), but the elite-level potential gymnasts outperformed the less gifted gymnasts on all physical (Wilks' lambda = 0.65, F = 8.00, p < 0.001) and coordinative variables (Wilks' lambda = 0.79, F = 22.10, p < 0.001). Discriminant analysis revealed motor coordination to be the most important factor in discriminating between young female elite and sub-elite gymnasts. A test battery measuring multidimensional performance characteristics is valuable in addition to the coaches' technical judgment in the search of young gifted female gymnasts.