Determining the talents of Iranian squash children based on gross motor growth test and physical fitness tests

The aim of this study was to establish normative data for talent identification in Iranian children aged 7 to 11 in the sport of squash, based on locomotor and ball skills using the Ulrich test and physical fitness assessments. This applied, descriptive-analytical research included a random national sample of 100 children aged 7 to 11. The results showed a significant improvement in ball skills, locomotor skills, and physical fitness with increasing age. Ball skill scores increased from 194.86 at age 7 to 250.47 at age 11, demonstrating a strong correlation with squash talent identification norms. Locomotor skills and physical fitness also showed significant correlations with talent identification scores, with correlation coefficients of 0.77 and 0.83 respectively. These findings underscore the importance of these motor and fitness components in the process of identifying sports talent among children. The results suggest that ball skills, locomotor skills, and physical fitness are meaningfully related to squash talent identification norms in children aged 7 to 11 and improve with age. Physical fitness is highlighted as an effective indicator for identifying sports talent, while locomotor and ball skills also play crucial roles in this process. The combined use of these assessments can enhance talent identification procedures and support the design of more effective training programs.