Psychological – Athletic Test for Sports Selection

CONTRIBUTORS

Theodoros Mallias
Theodoros MalliasPhD in Psychology and the Science of Physical Education and Sports Researcher, Author, and Publisher of the Psychological–Athletic Test for Children and Youth Licensed Psychologist by the Ministry of Health Certified Sport Psychologist by the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) and the Hellenic Association of Sport Psychology (HASP) Recognized in “Who is Who” in Sport Psychology
Scientific Director of the Center for Culture – Olympism “Kostis Palamas”
President of the Patras Fine Arts Association “Kostis Palamas”
Sofia Mallia
Sofia MalliaProfessor of Physical Education and Sport Science Certifications – Declarations of Attendance – Training from Conferences, Seminars, and Workshops in Sport Psychology and Counseling
Scientific Associate in the Publication of the Psychological–Athletic Test for Children and Youth

Georgia Giachou
Georgia GiachouArtist - Artistic Supervision of the Psychological–Athletic Test for Children and Youth Administrator – Distribution Coordinator of the Test
President of the Center for Culture and Olympism “Kostis Palamas”

AVAILABILITY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

PSYCHOLOGICAL – ATHLETIC TEST FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

The internationally renowned Sport Psychology TEST by Dr. Theodoros Mallias, PhD in Psychology and Physical Education, is a groundbreaking psychological–athletic assessment tool based on the principles of sport psychology and activity preference. It helps children and young people discover the sport they love and that best suits them.

The test is a specially designed visual questionnaire featuring Olympic sports, scientifically validated and presented at the World Conference of the Society for Stress and Anxiety Research (STAR). It ensures the accurate identification of the most suitable and enjoyable sport for children and youth over the age of six.

Extensive scientific research in the fields of Sociology and Psychology has demonstrated that a child’s personal choice of their most beloved sport—rather than being pressured by parents or other external influences—is a key factor not only in their physical health and well-being but also in their psychological, emotional, and social development.

This personal selection of the most preferred sport is substantiated and put into practice through the administration of the Psychological–Athletic Test developed by the renowned Sport Psychologist, Professor Theodoros Mallias.

The act of a child personally choosing a sport they truly enjoy holds special significance and brings multiple benefits for a variety of reasons.

  • a) It provides the child and the parents with the opportunity to avoid wasting valuable time on a sport that is not the child’s own choice—especially nowadays, when the time pressure from the child’s studies makes time an extremely precious resource, and the child is unlikely to experience the happiness and joy they would desire.

    Most importantly, a child involved in a sport they do not want and do not love will significantly contribute to their quitting the sport altogether, as well as likely abandoning lifelong physical activity and engagement in sports. This may lead the child to unknown and often indisputable behaviors, activities, and social circles, which undoubtedly affect the development of their personality.

  • b) It avoids the unnecessary expenditure of money over a long period by paying for the child’s involvement in a sport they do not prefer, with unpredictable future outcomes.

  • c) It provides the child and the parents with the opportunity for the child to avoid experiencing a sense of failure while training in a sport in which they may potentially aspire to advance competitively in the future—a process that requires hard and demanding training, where motivation driven by love for the sport is a fundamental prerequisite for success.

  • d) Most importantly, engaging in a sport that the child neither wants nor loves will significantly contribute to quitting that sport and, most likely, abandoning lifelong participation in physical activity and sports. This may lead the child to unknown and often questionable behaviors, activities, and social circles, which undoubtedly have an impact on the formation of their personality.

Based on extensive scientific, research, and practical experience with sports and children, the undeniable necessity of children’s participation in sports becomes clear. We recognize the tremendous benefits it provides to the child—not only for their physical health and well-being but equally for their mental, emotional, and social harmony and development.

Regarding these benefits, numerous scholars analyze and document the vast advantages of a child’s involvement in sports—an activity that has held a prominent place since Ancient Greek civilization, as seen in the renowned academies of Plato and Aristotle. These philosophers emphasized and practiced the Platonic ideal “A healthty mind in a healthy body” as essential for the formation of a well-rounded citizen.

The choice of sport is an important decision for both the parent and the child and should be guided exclusively by the child’s personal desire to select the sport. This ensures an enjoyable engagement, enhanced endurance, and a healthy lifestyle. To determine which sport excites and is most loved by the child, the aforementioned scientifically validated psychological test for selecting the most preferred sport provides a reliable solution.

The Sports Selection Test includes:

  • A color activity book featuring photographs of Olympic sports.
  • Instruction Manual for the Scientific Supervisor explaining the Test
  • Sport Selection Card & Sport Scoring Card
  • Selection of the most suitable and preferred sports for each child’s profile, in order of priority

The Kostis Palamas Center for Culture and Olympism offers experienced scientific collaborators for every form of support.

Niki Bouzouka – Child Psychologist – Parent and Child Counseling
Extensive experience with certifications and official documentation related to the administration of psychological tests.

Sophia Mallia – Professor of Physical Education and Sports Science
Certified training through conferences, seminars, and workshops in Sports Psychology and Counseling.

1. SEMINARS (Clarifications – Explanations)
Provided to each Scientific Supervisor who will administer the test to children.
Seminar Duration: Up to 2 hours

2. TEST ADMINISTRATION
Includes:

  • Administration of the Test

  • Scoring of Sport Preferences

  • Issuance of Test Results
    Duration for administration and scoring: 2 to 3 hours

FEATURES:

  • Ages: 6+

  • Test Duration: Introductory briefing and test administration from 1 to 1.5 hours

  • Easy to Administer: Simple and user-friendly procedure with examiner support

  • Languages Available: Greek & English

“Every child has a sport that suits them – let’s discover it together!”

For the administration and conduct of the TEST, contact 2610-321653 daily 10:00-16:00 and 697 663 2724