Choosing a Sport for Children: How Should Genetic Information Be Used?

Many parents wonder whether a DNA test can tell them which sport their child is more predisposed to. The short answer is: no. With today’s scientific knowledge, a genetic test cannot tell whether a child will succeed in a particular sport, whether they are talented or whether they can become an elite athlete. In this article, we explain what scientific organisations say on this subject and within which limits genetic information can be used in the family.

What do scientific statements say?

A consensus statement published in 2015 by sport and exercise genetics researchers reached a clear conclusion: genetic tests have no role in talent identification or in prescribing individualised training to maximise performance. The statement emphasises that, at the current level of knowledge, no child or young athlete should be exposed to direct-to-consumer genetic testing for the purpose of defining their training or selecting talented children.

The 2017 position statement of the Australian Institute of Sport points in the same direction: there is no scientific basis for using genetic testing to improve performance, choose a sport or identify talent. The same statement does, however, support ethical research aimed at understanding athletes’ predisposition to injury and illness.

Why can’t a genetic test choose a sport?

• The effect of individual variants is small. Even ACTN3, the most studied “speed gene”, showed only a small association, limited to power-oriented sports, in a large meta-analysis of athletes.
• Performance depends on many factors. Training, technique, nutrition, sleep, motivation, coaching, access to opportunities and growth rate are often more decisive than genetic tendency.
• Children are still developing. Differences in the timing of puberty and physical maturation can account for a large part of the performance differences between children of the same age.

What does the International Olympic Committee recommend for youth sport?

The International Olympic Committee’s consensus statement on youth athletic development emphasises the importance of a sustainable and enjoyable sporting environment that includes participation at every level. The goal is to raise healthy and resilient young athletes. In this approach, letting the child try different sports, observation and expert assessment come before any laboratory result.

How can genetic information be used in the family?

The role of genetic information is to support observation, not to make decisions. Reasonable uses include:

• Starting a conversation about recovery and load management. A finding can be a reason to talk with the coach about how to plan rest during intense periods.
• Bringing injury-prevention habits to the table. Warm-up, strength and flexibility work are beneficial for every child. A genetic finding can be a reminder to prioritise them; the absence of a finding does not mean they are unnecessary.
• Putting the child’s interest at the centre. The sport a child enjoys and wants to continue matters more than a genetic tendency.

Things to avoid:

• Steering a child towards or away from a sport based on a result
• Giving the child labels such as “you’re a power athlete” or “endurance isn’t for you”
• Using the result as a criterion in choosing a coach, selecting a team or making school decisions

What do Hub Genetik’s kids’ packages cover, and what don’t they?

The Kids’ Genetic Sports Map provides information on athletic tendency, recovery and injury predisposition. This information is intended to be used together with parental observation and expert assessment, and the results are discussed in a parent consultation session. The package does not predict talent, success or the right sport. For families who want to see sports, health and learning topics together, there is the Genetic Potential Map. You can see all kids’ packages in the kids’ collection.

Kids’ packages require parental consent. The sample is collected at home with a needle-free cheek swab. The report is prepared within 18–21 business days after the sample reaches the laboratory. Details can be found in the frequently asked questions.

References

1. Webborn N, Williams A, McNamee M, et al. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing for predicting sports performance and talent identification: Consensus statement. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(23):1486-91. PMID: 26582191. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2015-095343
2. Vlahovich N, Fricker PA, Brown MA, et al. Ethics of genetic testing and research in sport: a position statement from the Australian Institute of Sport. Br J Sports Med. 2017;51(1):5-11. PMID: 27899345. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096661
3. Bergeron MF, Mountjoy M, Armstrong N, et al. International Olympic Committee consensus statement on youth athletic development. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(13):843-51. PMID: 26084524. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2015-094962
4. Ma F, Yang Y, Li X, et al. The association of sport performance with ACE and ACTN3 genetic polymorphisms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e54685. PMID: 23358679. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054685