Neuroscience in the preparation of the athlete at an early age

Abstract

   Neuroscience in early athlete preparation emerges as a fascinating field of study with great potential to transform our understanding of motor development, learning, and sports performance in childhood. Research in this field offers valuable insights into how the brain develops and adapts in response to training, experience, and environment, being useful for designing more effective and personalized training programs that optimize the development of young athletes in a healthy and positive participation. Sports neuroscience has focused on individual sports such as soccer or tennis, but it is important to expand the study to other sports disciplines, including team sports, racquet sports, and water sports. Understanding the differences and similarities in the neurocognitive demands of different sports will allow the development of specific training strategies for each discipline. It is essential to consider the interaction between neuroscience and other factors that influence childhood sports performance, such as psychology, nutrition, sleep, and socioeconomic background. A holistic approach will allow a complete understanding of the development of sports performance in childhood. Likewise, collaboration between neuroscience researchers and sports professionals, such as coaches, physiotherapists, and sports psychologists, will facilitate the translation of scientific findings into real practice with the development of effective and evidence-based training programs. There is an urgent need to disseminate scientific knowledge about childhood sports neuroscience to understand and apply neuroscientific principles in the training and preparation of infants.