Effect of Specific versus Variable Practice upon Overhead Throwing Speed in Children

Abstract

This study compared the effect of practice throwing with specific weights (specificity principle) or with variable weights (variability of practice) for a short practice period in children. Primary school children (N = 41; M age = 7.7 yr., SD = 0.5) were randomly divided into three homogenous groups. The first two groups used specific overhead throwing practice: throws with a soccer ball or 1 kg balls, while the third group used variable practice with 0.35, 0.45, 0.5, and 1 kg balls. All groups trained twice per week for six weeks. The same workload per session between the three groups varied from 24 throws (1 kg practice group) to 43 throws (soccer ball practice group). Throwing speed and distance with different balls was measured before and after the practice period. Statistically significant increases in performance in all three practice groups were found with no significant differences between groups. The results indicate that both specific and variable practice of throwing in children lead to increases in performance. However, it seems that the increased workload (practice) is a more important factor than the type of practice (specific or variable) in enhancing performance in children.