Persistence among Young Male Gymnasts

Abstract

Persistence is a trait which probably affects many human activities. It is especially important in the developmental stages of young athletes who are exposed to making intensive effort over a long period of time. Many talented youths fail to achieve their potential directly because they lack the trait of persistence. This is most pronounced in activities such as athletics, music, and arts, where practice is required beginning at very early ages. The purpose of this study was to contrast several components comprising persistence of athletes and nonathletes. The Persistence Scale for Children was administered to 50 young male gymnasts who persisted in the sport for more than two years and to 99 male nonathletes. Analysis showed that the gymnasts scored significantly higher than the nonathletes on over-all persistence. Further analysis indicated that the gymnasts scored significantly higher on four particular components. The discussion emphasizes the importance of persistence in selection and development of young athletes.