sportartspezifischer

Sportartspezifischer is an adjective used in German to describe something that is more tailored to a particular sport. It derives from sportart (type of sport) and spezifisch (specific), with the comparative suffix -er. In sports science and coaching, the term characterizes training, testing, or equipment that addresses the unique demands of a single sport rather than generic fitness.

In practice, sportartspezifischer programs emphasize movement patterns, energy systems, and skill requirements specific to the sport. This aligns with the principle of specificity (often referred to as the SAID principle: Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands), which states that adaptations to training are most pronounced in tasks that closely resemble the actual sport. Therefore sportartspezifischer training tends to employ sport-specific drills, intensities, and environmental cues, and may incorporate equipment, surfaces, and competition rules used in actual play.

Examples include soccer players performing drills that mimic kicking, stopping, and changing direction with ball control; tennis players focusing on stroke mechanics, serve speeds, and rapid lateral movement; and swimmers developing starts and turns that match target race distances. In rehabilitation, sportartspezifischer tasks can aid a sport-specific return to play. In talent development, assessments and practice emphasize sport-specific skills alongside conditioning.

Related concepts include the non-comparative sportartspezifisch form, training specificity, and the broader idea of tailoring practice to the demands of a given sport.