Exercise as a function of the motor preference of athetes (11-12 years old) in the Rafael Trejo Gym

Abstract

Motor preference is a determining factor in athletic performance and in the design of training methodology adapted to the individual characteristics of athletes, especially in disciplines such as boxing. The functional preference of one side of the body directly influences technique, posture, and combat strategy. The study of laterality patterns at an early age is especially important to optimize the training process of future talents. This research, which aims to create a set of exercises based on the motor preference of boxing athletes (11-12 years old) at the Rafael Trejo Gym, focused on 13 boxers between 11 and 12 years of age, some of whom are new to the sport, while others have a year or more of experience. This age is considered a sensitive period for the development of motor and technical-tactical skills, so the early identification of laterality patterns allows for more precise guidance in the teaching of fundamentals such as guarding, movement, and basic punches. The group's diversity provided a favorable framework for analyzing how different types of laterality (right-handed, left-handed, and cross-handed) manifest themselves and how these influence the assimilation of boxing's technical content. Understanding these patterns from an early age not only facilitated more personalized teaching but also contributed to more effective long-term development.