Modified sport
Modified sports can take many forms but are generally designed to be an introductory, or more accessible version, of a sport.
Modifying a sport allows the governing organisation to offer a single product (i.e., sport) in several different (but related) formats to suit a wide range of needs. 11
Modified sports can take many forms but are generally designed to be an introductory, or more accessible version, of a sport. Programs may focus on children, mature-age participants, persons with disability, the time poor, people looking for more social (less competitive) opportunities, or gender. 12
Modified sports also help to develop general movement skills and basic techniques. Modified equipment and rules are used to match the capabilities (age, physical size, motor skill proficiency, etc.) of participants. 13, 14
For more information see the Modified Sports topic.
Further reading and resources
- Play more, enjoy more, keep playing; rugby is a simple game, opens in a new tab, Ben Jones, Ed Hope, Andrew Hammond, et.al., International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, Volume 16(3), pp. 636-645, (June 2021). Competitive Engineering (CE) is a structurally-based competitive climate process designed to create a more positive experience in youth sport. CE encompasses changes to league structures, equipment, pitch-size, and game rules. For example, rule changes that stipulate greater involvement (e.g., playing time) or action (e.g., increasing scoring opportunities) are designed to improve engagement. Despite this, few studies have examined whether CE-based rule changes influence factors known to influence drop out from sport. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a rule change in youth rugby whereby any player selected as part of a match day squad must play at least half a game or equivalent (i.e., the ‘Half-Game Rule’). To achieve this, we studied the influence of the rule change on player reported outcomes throughout the 2017/2018 playing season. Players who “always or almost always” experienced playing at least half a game more often than other players; reported higher enjoyment, than those who played less regularly (F = 35.6, P < .001). Importantly, players who reported higher levels of enjoyment also reported greater intentions to continue playing rugby (F = 6.4, P < .002). Findings support the use of CE to facilitate player enjoyment in team sports and could lead to reduced attrition in youth sport more generally.
- Baskin – a new basketball-based sport for reverse-integration of athletes with disabilities: an analysis of the relative importance of player roles, opens in a new tab, Davide Sisti, Stefano Amatori, Roberto Bensi, et.al., Sport in Society, Volume 24(2), pp.277-285, (2021). Reverse integration in sports is a kind of integration in which athletes with disabilities outnumber their non-disabled counterparts. A new sport that reflects the concept of reverse integration is ‘Baskin’, which has similar rules to traditional basketball, with a difference: players are divided into five roles, according to the severity of their disability or lack thereof. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate, the degree of contribution to the match outcome of the Baskin scores of participants in different roles. The investigation was conducted by analysing the 2015/2016 Baskin league season, comparing the points scored by each player role. Results showed that the contribution of athletes with severe disabilities is decisive to the outcome of the games. Within the concept of reversed integration, some changes to the rules could be made to spread the scoring more evenly across the various player roles on the Baskin team.
- Implementation of a modified sport programme to increase participation: Key stakeholder perspectives, opens in a new tab, Buszard T, Oppici L, Westerbeek H, et.al., Journal of Sports Sciences, Volume 38(8), pp.945-952, (March 2020). Modified sports, whereby equipment and rules are manipulated to facilitate skill performance, have been shown to promote skill learning and potentially increase participation. However, it is currently unexplored how key stakeholders - coaches and key figures working in National associations - who are critical stakeholders in implementing and delivering sport programmes, perceive modified sport. This study explored how tennis coaches and key figures working within tennis National associations perceived the impact of implementing a modified tennis campaign on participation and skill development in children and adults. Key figures and coaches around the world completed an online questionnaire. Both groups considered that modified tennis was positively associated with increasing and sustaining participation, skill learning, talent development and people's attitude towards tennis. Furthermore, participants thought that a rule change (i.e., use of a low-compression ball in children competitions) and the campaign's core messages (i.e., "serve, rally, score" and "easy, fun, and healthy") have been critical for the success of the campaign. These results support previous research on the positive impact of modified tennis on skill development and provide a further impetus on implementing modified sports to increase participation. Other sports can adopt similar strategies to improve their modified programmes.
- Why just exercise if you can play? Interest in a modified sports program to enhance physical activity among primary care patients, opens in a new tab, Christopher Sciamanna, Andrew Mowen, Jennifer Kraschnewski, et.al., Preventive Medicine Reports, Volume 8, pp.273-278, (December 2017). This survey was designed to determine the interest of primary care patients in participating in program designed to maximize enjoyment. Primary care patients (n=540) in Central Pennsylvania reported their interest in participating in a “a regular fitness program where people your own age played games, such as softball, floor hockey and soccer, that were made to be easier to play and less competitive.” Mean age was 58.4 years. More than one-third, including 59.6% of those under age 50, were interested in the modified sports fitness program. After adjusting for confounders, patients under age 40 were 5.9 times as interested (v. age > 70) and non-white patients were 3.4 times interested. Female patients and those with hypertension, high cholesterol or obesity were equally interested. A fitness program that consists of modified sports may be of interest to most primary care patients under age 50. Patients' initial interest appears high enough to warrant further development and testing.
Access to resources Where possible, direct links to full-text and online resources are provided. However, where links are not available, you may be able to access documents directly by searching our licenced full-text databases (note: user access restrictions apply). Alternatively, you can ask your institutional, university, or local library for assistance—or purchase documents directly from the publisher. You may also find the information you’re seeking by searching Google Scholar, opens in a new tab.
