scholarly journals The Coaches’ Efficacy Expectations of Youth Soccer Players with Different Maturity Status and Physical Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 289-299
Author(s):  
Iván Peña-González ◽  
Tomas García-Calvo ◽  
Eduardo M. Cervelló ◽  
Manuel Moya-Ramón

Abstract This study aimed to report possible anthropometrical and physical performance differences between youth soccer players with different maturity status and to report the coaches’ expectations, hypothesizing that coaches would expect more from players with advanced maturity. One hundred twenty-two (122) players completed a physical performance battery. Their maturity status was estimated and the coaches’ efficacy expectations (CEEs) were assessed. Players with advanced maturation had better physical performance (F = 26.5-73.4; p < 0.01) and their CEEs for strength-related tasks were different according to the maturity status (F = 8.3-10.9; p < 0.01), but not for speed-related tests, nor for their general ability to play soccer. Normalized data showed significant differences between physical performance tests and their respective CEEs within each maturity group, especially in the Post-PHV group. This study confirms the physical advantages of players with advanced maturity while it shows controversial results of how maturation affects the coaches’ perceptions and, indirectly, the coaches’ identification and selection of talented players.

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-151
Author(s):  
Bruno Barbosa Giudicelli ◽  
Leonardo Gomes de Oliveira Luz ◽  
Douglas Henrique Bezerra Santos ◽  
Hugo Sarmento ◽  
Alain Guy Marie Massart ◽  
...  

Abstract Studies assessing age and maturation effects on morphological and physical performance measures of young judokas are scarce. This study aimed to assess the independent and combined effects of chronological age and biological maturation on anthropometry and physical performance of 67 judokas aged 11-14. Participants’ anthropometric profiles were assessed, and physical performance tests were completed. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed an independent effect of age (anthropometry: F = 1.871; p < 0.05; Pillai’s trace = 0.545; η2 p = 0.272; physical performance: F = 2.876; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.509; η2 p = 0.254) and maturity (anthropometry: F = 10.085; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.669; η2 p = 0.669; physical performance: F = 11.700; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.581; η2 p = 0.581). There was no significant combined effect of age and maturity. The maturation effect remained significant when controlled for age (anthropometry: F = 4.097; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.481; η2 p = 0.481; physical performance: F = 3.859; p < 0.01; Pillai’s trace = 0.0.318; η2 p = 0.318). Inadolescent judokas, the maturation effect on growth and physical performance seems to be more relevant than the age effect, leading to the need to control this effect in training routines and competitive events. As in studies with youth soccer players and other youth athletes, bio-banding can be a strategy for controlling maturation in combat sports.


Author(s):  
Rhys Morris ◽  
Tony Myers ◽  
Stacey Emmonds ◽  
Dave Singleton ◽  
Kevin Till

Abstract Purpose Sled towing has been shown to be an effective method to enhance the physical qualities in youth athletes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a 6-week sled towing intervention on muscular strength, speed and power in elite youth soccer players of differing maturity status. Method Seventy-three male elite youth soccer players aged 12–18 years (Pre-Peak Height Velocity [PHV] n = 25; Circa-PHV n = 24; Post-PHV n = 24) from one professional soccer academy participated in this study. Sprint assessments (10 m and 30 m), countermovement jump and isometric mid-thigh pull were undertaken before (T1) and after (T2) a 6-week intervention. The training intervention consisted of 6 weeks (2 × per week, 10 sprints over 20 m distance) of resisted sled towing (linear progression 10%–30% of body mass) during the competitive season. Bayesian regression models analysed differences between T1 and T2 within each maturity group. Results There were minimal changes in strength, speed and power (P = 0.35–0.80) for each maturity group across the 6-week intervention. Where there were changes with greater certainty, they are unlikely to represent real effect due to higher regression to the mean (RTM). Conclusion It appears that a 6-week sled towing training programme with loadings of 10%–30% body mass only maintains physical qualities in elite youth soccer players pre-, circa-, and post-PHV. Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of this training method in long-term athletic development programmes.


Sports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Esco ◽  
Michael Fedewa ◽  
Zackary Cicone ◽  
Oleg Sinelnikov ◽  
Damir Sekulic ◽  
...  

The primary aim of this study was to determine the association between body composition and performance outcomes in youth soccer players. Twenty-five competitive male youth soccer players (age = 13.7 ± 0.8 years, height = 167.4 ± 9.7 cm, weight = 57.6 ± 12.1 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. Height and weight were used to calculate body mass index (BMI). Body fat percentage (BF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) were determined with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Each athlete performed the Pacer test, vertical jump, and t-test drill. Participants were predominantly normal weight (20.4 ± 2.7 kg·m−2). The body composition results were 20.3 ± 4.9% for BF% and 46.5 ± 8.7 kg for FFM. The results of the performance tests indicated a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 1418 ± 332 m for Pacer, 57.2 ± 7.4 cm for vertical jump, 11.6 ± 0.7 s for t-test. Body mass index was not associated with any performance measure (r = 0.02 to −0.21, all p > 0.05). Body fat percentage was associated with the Pacer, vertical jump, and t-test (r = −0.62, −0.57, 0.61, respectively; all p < 0.01) and remained after accounting for BMI. Fat-free mass was only significantly related to t-test (r = −0.43, p < 0.01). However, after controlling for BMI, FFM was related to all three performance tests. Body fat percentage and FFM are associated with performance in youth soccer players, with stronger relationships reported in the former metric. The findings highlight the need for accurate body composition measurements as part of an assessment battery in young athletes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
James Parr ◽  
Keith Winwood ◽  
Emma Hodson-Tole ◽  
Frederik J. A. Deconinck ◽  
James P. Hill ◽  
...  

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.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renaat M. Philippaerts ◽  
Roel Vaeyens ◽  
Melissa Janssens ◽  
Bart Van Renterghem ◽  
Dirk Matthys ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Maryam Abarghoueinejad ◽  
Daniel Barreira ◽  
Cláudia Dias ◽  
Eduardo Guimarães ◽  
Adam D. G. Baxter-Jones ◽  
...  

Youth soccer performance is multifaceted, includes physical growth, biological maturation, and physical fitness, and is linked to the sporting environment to which the players are exposed. We aim to describe age-related associations in body physique, body composition, physical performance technical and tactical skills, psychological and club characteristics of male soccer players aged 12 to 14 years. A total of 157 male soccer players clustered into three age-cohorts (12, 13 and 14 years) were recruited from six soccer clubs. Anthropometric, body composition and body physique, biological maturation, physical performance, skill/game proficiency data, psychological characteristics, and clubs’ characteristics were collected. Group means were compared using analysis of variance and covariance. Fourteen years old players were significantly taller, heavier, leaner, faster, stronger, and technically more skilled than their younger peers (p < 0.05). Differences in physical performance and technical skills (p < 0.05) were found between age groups when adjusting for confounders of soccer training and biological maturation. No significant differences (p > 0.05) between age groups were found in psychological domains. Our findings suggest that age, biological maturation, and training volume are key factors influencing young soccer players’ performance and development. Further, clubs’ conditions provide players with ample resources for their success in training and competition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1057-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad S Keller ◽  
Annette J Raynor ◽  
Fiona Iredale ◽  
Lyndell Bruce

Objectives Football Federation Australia (FFA) has identified that Australian athletes are proficient physically, however often lack the technical and tactical skills to excel internationally. The aim of the current study was to assess if a video-based decision-making test could discriminate different age-matched skill levels of talent in Australian soccer. Design Cross-sectional observational. Methods Sixty-two youth male soccer players completed a video-based decision-making test. Results An ANOVA test showed that the video-based test significantly discriminated between all three groups, with the national elite athletes selecting more correct responses than the state elite (65.3 ± 8.1%; 56.0 ± 9.1%, respectively). The state elite were more accurate than the sub-elite (45.9 ± 8.8%). Conclusions Results suggest that a video-based test may be a suitable tool to use in the selection of athletes as a measure of decision-making skill. The low accuracy scores, even for the national elite cohort, suggest that decision-making skill at the youth level has room for improvement and should be prioritised as an area for development.


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