The Rafa Nadal Foundation and the University, with the support of Santander, present the case study "Más Que Tenis".
Designed by researchers at the academic center, the work analyzes the physical, social and psychological well-being of athletes with intellectual disabilities.
04 | 05 | 2023
The Rafa Nadal Foundation and the University of Navarra have presented at the Santander Work Café de Recoletos in Madrid the case study Más Que Tenis. The work has been designed by researchers of the School of Education and Psychology to answer questions related to the physical, social and psychological well-being of athletes with intellectual disabilities.
For three years, both entities have been working on the study "Adapted sport as tool of welfare and inclusion in athletes with intellectual disabilities", using as a case example the project Más Que Tenis, which the Rafa Nadal Foundation has been developing since 2010 together with Special Olympics. It will be published in September of this year.
The presentation of the first conclusions was attended by María Francisca Perelló, director of the Rafa Nadal Foundation; Apolinar Varela, researcher principal of the University of Navarra, with part of his team; and Felipe Martín, director Media, Online Marketing, Sponsorships and Events of Santander Spain, the main funder of work.
The study seeks to obtain answers to questions such as the perception of professionals about their role and activity in the Más Que Tenis program, the evaluation of their contributions in the lives of athletes and their families, and the way in which athletes feel part of the community of the club where it is carried out. In addition, it also evaluates the motor skills of athletes with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) in a manner adapted to their characteristics.
The athletes belonging to the program were evaluated by means of two specific tests: a brief intelligence test K-BIT and a battery of assessment of movement MABC-2. From the test K-BIT, the results correspond to the Intellectual disability of Degree light; although 48% of the sample is located in the Degree moderate. In turn, the MABC-2 tests showed an average performance in Aiming and Catching, low in Balance and skill guide , the latter being significantly more leave. In the words of Apolinar Varela, "the results do not differ by sex and age, but do differ by the Degree of DI; being better the performance of the group with mild disability".
Maria Francisca Perello, director of the Rafa Nadal Foundation, stressed that "the study will provide many answers and ideas for improvement to continue using sport in favor of people in status of vulnerability, as in this case is the group of people with intellectual disabilities". For his part, Apolinar Varela, researcher of the University of Navarra, highlighted the partnership in this project of research, "which will serve the Rafael Nadal Foundation to promote and make visible the inclusion through sport".
Finally, Felipe Martin, director Media, Online Marketing, Sponsorships and Events of Santander Spain, was delighted to support the Rafa Nadal Foundation in this initiative "so important for the group of people with intellectual disabilities".
