scholarly journals Relative age, maturation, anthropometry and physical performance characteristics of players within an Elite Youth Football Academy

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 714-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rickesh Patel ◽  
Alan Nevill ◽  
Ross Cloak ◽  
Tina Smith ◽  
Matthew Wyon
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Youth Football ◽  
Physical Performances ◽  
Novel Approaches ◽  
Level 1

A professional English football club with Category 1 academy status was investigated to determine the magnitude of relative age effects (RAE) within the club and explore between-quartile differences for somatic maturity, anthropometry and physical performances. Birth dates of 426 players from Under 9 to First Team were categorised into four birth quartiles (Q) and examined for relative age effects. Additionally, data on 382 players (Under 11 to First Team) were obtained for somatic maturity, anthropometry, countermovement jump, sprint (10 and 30 m), agility T-test and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 or 2 performance to determine between-quartile differences. Odds ratios revealed Q1 players were 6.0 times more likely to be represented than Q4 players. Multilevel modelling demonstrated between birth quartile similarities for each variable across all age groups, though there was a tendency for Q4 players to outperform Q1 players between Under 11 and Under 18 groups. Strong relative age effects exist within this club as well as a tendency to select players demonstrating advanced growth and/or maturity, with some indication that higher categorised academies in England may be at risk of amplified selection biases. Talent identification strategies in elite youth football should actively seek to adopt novel approaches to reduce selection biases and avoid wasted potential.

scholarly journals Associations between Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Jump and Change of Direction Speed Tests and Physical Performance in Adolescent Female Soccer Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3474
Author(s):  
Elena Pardos-Mainer ◽  
Chris Bishop ◽  
Oliver Gonzalo-Skok ◽  
Hadi Nobari ◽  
Jorge Pérez-Gómez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Adolescent Female ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
Percentage Difference ◽  
Hop Test ◽  
Physical Tests

The association between asymmetries in jump and change of direction (COD) with physical performance in several sports show inconclusive results. The purposes of this study were to: (1) measure inter-limb asymmetries in three distinct groups in adolescent female soccer players and, (2) to determine the association between inter-limb asymmetries and physical performance in different age groups. Fifty-four players were distributed in three age groups: U-18, U-16 and U-14. All of them performed a series of jumps, sprints and change of direction speed tests. Asymmetries were assessed as the percentage difference between limbs, with the equation: 100/Max value (right and left) * in value (right and left) * −1 + 100. Mean inter-limb asymmetries were 2.91%, 4.82% and 11.6% for 180° COD, single leg hop and single leg countermovement jump tests respectively, but higher percentages of asymmetries were observed in many players individually. U-18 and U-16 showed significant differences on 180° left COD compared to U-14. Effect size (ES): 0.80 and 0.74, respectively; U-18 presented differences on single left leg hop test compared to U-14, ES: −0.72; U-16 also showed differences on 40 m speed compared to U-14, ES 0.87 (All p < 0.05). Jumping and COD physical tests show asymmetries in adolescent female soccer players, but these asymmetries do not interfere with physical performance. The largest asymmetry was observed in the single leg countermovement jump, and no asymmetries between groups were found. Due to the high variability in the direction of asymmetries, it is recommended to consider players’ individual asymmetries for designing specific training programs.

scholarly journals The Influence of Relative Age Effects on the Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels of Children Age 9 to 10 and 11 to 12 Years of Age

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J. Roberts ◽  
Lynne M. Boddy ◽  
Stuart J. Fairclough ◽  
Gareth Stratton
Keyword(s):  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Fitness Testing ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
First Time

The aims of this study were firstly to examine whether there was an observed relative age effect in the cardiorespiratory fitness scores of 9-10 and 11-12 year old children, and secondly whether any observed effect was maintained after controlling for somatic maturity. Cardiorespiratory fitness data from 11,404 children aged 9-10 years and 3,911 children aged 11-12 years were obtained from a large cross-sectional field-based fitness testing program. A one-way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant relative age effect (p < .01) existed in the 20mSRT scores across all the age groups. Furthermore, ANCOVA analyses identified a statistically significant relative age effect was maintained after controlling for somatic maturation (p < .05). From a public health perspective these results confirm the existence of relative age effects for the first time and consequently may hold implications for relatively younger children in the accurate assessment of their cardiorespiratory fitness scores.

scholarly journals Origins of Relative Age Effects in Youth Football—A Nationwide Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Romann ◽  
Eva Rüeger ◽  
Mirjam Hintermann ◽  
Raphael Kern ◽  
Oliver Faude
Keyword(s):  
Sport Participation ◽  
Waiting Lists ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Youth Football ◽  
Grassroots Level ◽  
Age Range ◽  
First Time ◽  
Age Category

Introduction: Relative age effects (RAEs) refer to the overrepresentation of players born earlier in the selection year compared to late-born players within the same age category. To date, the origins and mechanisms of RAEs are still unclear. To evaluate the development of RAEs in terms of age group and selection level, we analyzed data of all registered child and adolescent football players in Switzerland.Methods: Age category, selection level, and birthdate from all licensed 101,991 Swiss child and youth football players assigned to a specific team [9,149 girls (9.0%) and 92,842 boys (91.0%); age range: 4.6–19.6 years] were analyzed. Additionally, out of 1,128 clubs, 54 clubs provided their documented waiting lists (1,224 players). Birthdate distributions were split by age category, sex, and birth quarter (Q1 = January to March, Q4 = October to December). RAEs were calculated using odds ratios (Q1 vs. Q4) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).Results: We found small RAEs among U8 players (OR 1.44 [95% CI 1.31, 1.59]) and U10 (OR 1.24 [95% CI 1.16, 1.32]). The RAE was negligible in all other age categories, independent of gender. In children's football, 5,584 (71.3%) teams performed selections. In teams without selection, there were no obvious RAEs. However, teams with selections for the same age category showed small RAEs with an overrepresentation of Q1 athletes in the first team (OR = 1.29 [95% CI 1.24, 1.35]) and inverse RAEs with an underrepresentation of Q1 athletes in the last team (OR = 0.85 [95% CI 0.82, 0.89]). Only small RAEs were observed on the waiting lists for the U8 (OR = 1.48 [1.13, 1.95]).Discussion and Conclusion: RAEs have a small, but consistent effect on participation in Swiss children's football at the grassroots level. Contrary to expectations, no inverse RAEs were found on the waiting lists. Nonetheless, first time coach selections seem to be the origin of RAEs. To protect young athletes from discrimination, RAE biases should be analyzed and eliminated at all stages of sport participation, selection, and dropout situations. Modifications to the organizational structure of sport and athlete development systems are recommended to prevent RAE-related discrimination in youth sports.

scholarly journals The Main and Interactive Effects of Biological Maturity and Relative Age on Physical Performance in Elite Youth Soccer Players

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
James Parr ◽  
Keith Winwood ◽  
Emma Hodson-Tole ◽  
Frederik J. A. Deconinck ◽  
James P. Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Adolescent Male ◽  
Performance Tests ◽  
Strength Index ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Biological Maturity

The main and interactive effect of biological maturity and relative age upon physical performance in adolescent male soccer players was considered. Consistent with previous research, it was hypothesised that participants of greater maturity or born earlier in the selection year would perform better in terms of physical performance tests. This cross-sectional study consisted of 84 male participants aged between 11.3 and 16.2 years from a professional soccer academy in the English Premier League. Date of birth, height, weight, and parental height were collected. Sprint, change of direction, countermovement jump, and reactive strength index were considered for physical performance. Relative age was based on the birth quarter for the selection year. Maturity status was based upon the percentage of predicted adult height attained. Linear regression models highlighted that maturation was associated with performance on all but one of the physical performance tests, the reactive strength index. In contrast, relative age only served as a significant predictor of performance on the countermovement jump. This study indicated that physical performance (in the tests studied) seems to be related to the biological maturity status of a player but not their relative age. This finding is important because it suggests that early-maturing players perform better in the majority of physical performance tests, and the commonly held belief that relative age effect influences performance may be overstated.

Differences in anthropometric and physical performance characteristics between U17, U19, and Senior Irish female international football players

2020 ◽  
pp. 174795412096819
Author(s):  
Brian Doyle ◽  
Declan Browne ◽  
Dan Horan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Anthropometric Measures ◽  
Physical Tests ◽  
Level 1 ◽  
Test Level ◽  
Anthropometric Profile

This study aimed to compare the anthropometric physical performance characteristics of Irish female international footballers at U17, U19, and Senior age groups. Fifty-five (U17, n =24, U19, n =21, Senior, n = 10) female international football players participated in this study. The subjects underwent anthropometric measurements (height and body mass) and physical performance tests countermovement jump (CMJ), reactive strength index (RSI), 10-m, 20-m, 30-m linear sprint, and yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIR1). No significant differences were identified between any age groups for the anthropometric measures of height and body mass. Concerning the physical tests, senior players displayed greater CMJ scores in comparison with the U17 (P = 0.040). Senior players also possessed higher levels of reactive strength with large effect sizes present (ES = 0.83 - 0.92) in comparison to all age groups. No significant differences were identified between any of the age groups across the 10-m, 20-m, 30-m, and rolling 20-m linear speed assessments. Senior players covered the greatest distance in the YYIR1 (P = 0.0001) versus the U19 and U17. These results indicate there was no difference in the anthropometric profile of the age groups assessed. However, differences in physical performance characteristics were present between age groups, thus suggesting improvements in lower limb power and aerobic endurance are achievable in adulthood as players physically mature.

scholarly journals Maturity Has a Greater Association than Relative Age with Physical Performance in English Male Academy Soccer Players

Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
John M. Radnor ◽  
Jacob Staines ◽  
James Bevan ◽  
Sean P. Cumming ◽  
Adam L. Kelly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Adult Height ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Sprint Performance ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Sprint Time ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Professional Soccer

This study aimed to: (1) examine differences in physical performance across birth-quartiles and maturity-status, and (2) determine the relationships among relative age, maturation and physical performance in young male soccer players. The sample included 199 males aged between 8.1 and 18.9 years, from two professional soccer academies in the English Football League. Data were collected for height, weight, self-reported biological parent heights, 30 m sprint time and countermovement jump (CMJ) height. Relative age was conveyed as a decimal, while maturity status was determined as the percentage of predicted adult height (PAH). There were no significant differences in any measure between birth quartiles, however early maturers outperformed on-time and later maturers in most performance measures. Pearson-product-moment correlations revealed that maturation was inversely associated with 30 m sprint time in U12 to U16 (r = −0.370–0.738; p < 0.05), but only positively associated with CMJ performance in U12 (r = 0.497; p < 0.05). In contrast, relative age was unrelated to sprint performance and only significantly associated with superior CMJ performance in U16. This study indicates that maturity has a greater association with sprint performance than relative age in English male academy soccer players. Practitioners should monitor and assess biological maturation in young soccer players to attempt to control for the influence on physical performance, and avoid biasing selection on absolute performance rather than identifying the most talented player.

scholarly journals Does Early Recruitment Predict Greater Physical Performance in Academy Soccer Players?

Sports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Hertzog ◽  
Darren Paul ◽  
George Nassis ◽  
Joao Silva
Keyword(s):  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Time Analysis ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Training Process ◽  
Academy Training ◽  
Early Recruitment

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate whether recruitment status influences neuromuscular and endurance performances in academy soccer players over a 2-year training period (from Under-16 to Under-18). Thirty-seven male soccer players from an elite academy were selected and divided in two cohorts according to their recruitment status: Early Recruitment group (ER; n = 16), training and competing for the academy since Under-14 and Under-15 age groups, and; Late Recruitment group (LR; n = 21) included in the academy training process at Under-16. Squat (SJ) and countermovement jump with (CMJwA) and without arms swing (CMJ), 10-m sprint time, and Vam-Eval test (MAV) were performed in three successive occasions always pre-season (Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 age groups, T1, T2, and T3 respectively). A two-way (recruitment status × time) analysis of variance with repeated measurements was performed as well as the magnitude of difference using both effect size and magnitude-based inferences. There was no difference between ER and LR for MAV, 10 m-sprint, and SJ from T1 to T3. However, LR players presented non-significant small and possibly greater improvement in CMJ (ES = 0.4) and CMJwA (ES = 0.4) than ER players at T2. These data indicate that early recruitment is not likely to result in greater physical performance improvement at the age of 18.

scholarly journals How Relative Age Effects Associate with Football Players’ Market Values: Indicators of Losing Talent and Wasting Money

Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Michael Romann ◽  
Marie Javet ◽  
Stephen Cobley ◽  
Dennis-Peter Born
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Market Value ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Equal Distribution ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Market Values ◽  
Talent Selection ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Age Category

Background: In football, annual age-group categorization leads to relative age effects (RAEs) in talent development. Given such trends, relative age may also associate with market values. This study analyzed the relationship between RAEs and market values of youth players. Methods: Age category, birthdate, and market values of 11,738 youth male football players were obtained from the “transfermarkt.de” database, which delivers a good proxy for real market values. RAEs were calculated using odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: Significant RAEs were found across all age-groups (p < 0.05). The largest RAEs occurred in U18 players (Q1 [relatively older] v Q4 [relatively younger] OR = 3.1) ORs decreased with age category, i.e., U19 (2.7), U20 (2.6), U21 (2.4), U22 (2.2), and U23 (1.8). At U19s, Q1 players were associated with significantly higher market values than Q4 players. However, by U21, U22, and U23 RAEs were inversed, with correspondingly higher market values for Q4 players apparent. While large typical RAEs for all playing positions was observed in younger age categories (U18–U20), inversed RAEs were only evident for defenders (small-medium) and for strikers (medium-large) in U21–U23 (not goalkeepers and midfielders). Conclusions: Assuming an equal distribution of football talent exists across annual cohorts, results indicate the selection and market value of young professional players is dynamic. Findings suggest a potential biased selection, and undervaluing of Q4 players in younger age groups, as their representation and market value increased over time. By contrast, the changing representations and market values of Q1 players suggest initial overvaluing in performance and monetary terms. Therefore, this inefficient talent selection and the accompanying waste of money should be improved.

Transient Relative Age Effects across annual age groups in National level Australian Swimming

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 839-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Cobley ◽  
Shaun Abbott ◽  
Sera Dogramaci ◽  
Adam Kable ◽  
James Salter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Relative Age

scholarly journals Análisis de los componentes físicos y antropométricos de jóvenes futbolistas chilenos desde la categoría Sub-13 a Sub-19 (Analysis of the physical and anthropometric components of young Chilean footballers from category Sub-13 to Sub-19)

Retos ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 547-555
Author(s):  
Joel Barrera ◽  
Luis Valenzuela Contreras ◽  
Fernando Maureira ◽  
Hugo Sarmento
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Lower Margin ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Margin Of Error ◽  
Objective Tests

  Objetivo: describir el perfil antropométrico y condicional de jóvenes futbolistas chilenos desde la categoría Sub-13 a Sub-19, proponiendo una batería de pruebas objetivas, que permita proporcionar una serie de indicadores validos de medición. Metodología: se aplicaron pruebas de campo de agilidad 20 m zigzag, aceleración 10 m, velocidad 30 m, Running based anaerobic sprint test (RAST), Yo-Yo IR1 y salto contramovimiento (CMJ), sumado a las medidas antropométricas de altura y masa corporal. Resultados: Los resultados demostraron que los atletas de las categorías más jóvenes (Sub-13, Sub-14 y Sub-15) son más altos que los informados en otras publicaciones científicas. Además, el 73,2% de los atletas nació en los dos primeros trimestres del año de selección, dejando en evidencia el efecto de edad relativa. Las categorías Sub-13 y Sub-14 presentaron el mayor número de diferencias al comparar sus medias en las diferentes variantes. Conclusión: La mayor presencia de pruebas objetivas permiten determinar el rendimiento físico de los jóvenes futbolista, esto a su vez consiente en crear un estándar de selección más objetivo y con un menor margen de error para los entrenadores.  Abstract. Objective: to describe the anthropometric and fitness profile of young Chilean soccer players from the Sub-13 to Sub-19 category, proposing a battery of objective tests, which allows providing a series of valid measurement indicators. Methodology: field tests of agility 20 m zigzag, acceleration 10 m, speed 30 m, running based anaerobic sprint test (RAST), Yo-Yo IR1 and countermovement jump (CMJ) were applied, added to anthropometric measurements of height and body mass. Results: The results showed that the athletes in the youngest categories (Sub-13, Sub-14 and Sub-15) are higher than those reported in other scientific publications. In addition, 73.2% of athletes were born in the first two quarters of the selection year, revealing the effect of relative age. Categories Sub-13 and Sub-14 presented the greatest number of differences when comparing their means in the different variants. Conclusion: The greater presence of objective tests allows us to determine the physical performance of young soccer players, this in turn allows us to create a more objective selection standard and with a lower margin of error for coaches.

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