SUCCESSFULNESS IN TEENAGERS’ SPORTING ACTIVITIES: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM SPORTS

Abstract

The purpose is to perform comparative analysis of high and low levels of the content parameters of successfulness in teenagers’ sporting activities exemplified by individual (track and field, weight-lifting and catch wrestling) and team sports (football and volleyball). The research participants were the pupils of sports schools for children and youth, teenagers aged from 10 to 15 (M=13.3; SD=1.8). The sample of the participants of individual sports consisted of (n=78) respondents: track and field (n=38), weight-lifting (n=18) and catch wrestling (n=22). The sample of the participants of team sports consisted of (n=85) respondents: football (n=61) and volleyball (n=24). Research methods: independent expert evaluation, non-participant observation with entering the data into protocols; valid methods with standard forms. Results. The research compared the content parameters of successfulness between the groups of teenagers in individual (Group 1) and team sports (Group 2) and established a lack of dependence of successfulness on the type of sporting activities. It suggested proprietary independent expert evaluation of successfulness of teenagers’ sports groups applying the method of comparison of the achievements in the current and previous educational and training years. The research performed distribution into groups with high (Group 1H; Group 2H) and low levels of successfulness (Group 1L; Group 2L). The following statistical differences were found out in Group 1H and Group 1L: independence (t=3.43; р>.01), the level of self-regulation (t=2.73; р>.01), independence and initiative (t=2.43; р>.01), flexibility (t=2.27; р>.05), scheduling (t=1.56; р>.05) and purposefulness (t=1.43; р>.05). The following statistical differences were determined in the teenagers of Group 2H and Group 2L: the level of self-regulation (t=1.47; р>.05), modeling (t=1.36; р>.05), neuro-psychic tension (t=1.29; р>.05), motivation for achieving success (t=1.22; р>.05), motivation for avoiding failure (t=-1.09; р>.05). The study substantiated that independence, flexibility and scheduling for Group 1H and modeling for Group 2H are those components of teenagers’ selfregulation sphere which have a considerable impact on successfulness in sporting activities. Conclusions. The obtained scientific facts should be operationalized into educational, training and competitive activities of teenagers at schools for children and youth.