Sportspecifika

Sportspecifika is a concept in sport science that describes the design of training, equipment, and assessment to reflect the specific demands of a sport. The core idea is that adaptations from general fitness do not automatically transfer to performance in competition; improvements arise from practicing task-specific movements, energy system usage, skill execution, and decision making under realistic conditions.

Origin and usage: The term is used in European coaching literature and in several Nordic languages, where it broadly means sport-specific. It is commonly contrasted with generic conditioning and is used to guide program design, testing, and equipment selection.

Applications: In training, programs incorporate sport-specific drills that replicate typical movement patterns, intensities, and decision-making scenarios. Periodization aligns with the season, and performance tests simulate actual sport tasks. Equipment and apparel are chosen for sport demands, such as sport-specific footwear, protective gear, and sport-appropriate accessories. In rehabilitation, return-to-play criteria emphasize sport-specific tasks to confirm readiness.

Limitations and considerations: While sport-specific training can improve transfer to on-field performance, over-specialization may reduce general athletic resilience. Practitioners balance sport-specific work with broad conditioning to maintain versatility and reduce injury risk.

See also: sport-specific training.