Effects of the Skills4Genius sports-based training program in creative behavior

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Team sports environments offer unique opportunities for studying creative behavior.
• The Skills4Genius program integrates creative thinking, physical literacy, and pedagogical approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the Skills4Genius program's impact on creative thinking, motor skills, and in-game creative behavior in team sports.
• To explore the correlation between creative thinking and in-game creative performance.

Main Methods:

• Forty primary school children were divided into control and experimental groups.
• The experimental group underwent a five-month Skills4Genius training program.
• Key variables included creative thinking, motor performance (jump, speed, agility), and in-game behaviors (individual and collective).

Main Results:

• The program significantly improved creative thinking, speed, and agility.
• In-game individual creativity increased, particularly in action attempts and versatility.
• Children demonstrated enhanced tactical understanding and coordination with teammates and opponents.

Conclusions:

• The Skills4Genius program effectively fosters creativity and game-specific skills in young athletes.
• A positive correlation exists between creative thinking and in-game creative performance.
• Sports settings are ideal for developing creativity, benefiting children both on and off the field.