The Bias toward Biological Maturation through the Talent Selection in Japanese Elite Youth Soccer Players

AbstractIndividual differences in biological maturation present challenges for coaches involved with youth soccer players. Youth in the same chronological age group vary in terms of stage of maturity (pre, circum- and post-pubescent) and rate of growth, but how this affects coaches’ evaluations of player performance is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare youth soccer coaches’ evaluations of players match performances before, during and post growth spurt in a professional English soccer academy across four seasons. Two hundred and seventy-eight male soccer players in the under-9 to under-16 age-groups had their performances evaluated by their coach on a 4-point Likert scale. For each game, players were categorised by their maturity status estimated using percentage of predicted adult height at the time of observation. A one-way ANCOVA controlling for the level of opposition and game outcome revealed that coaches’ evaluations declined from the pre- to during growth spurt stages, however, this was only significant in the under 12 age-group. Further, coaches’ evaluations increased again in the post-growth spurt stage, although only significant in the under 15 age-group. Coaches evaluations of player performance appear to vary in accordance with stage of maturity and rate of growth. Practitioners in youth soccer should understand the extent to which maturity status may adversely impact performance and consider this when making talent selection decisions.

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Differences in Squat Jump, Linear Sprint, and Change-of-Direction Performance among Youth Soccer Players According to Competitive Level

Sports ◽

10.3390/sports9110149 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 149

Author(s):

Michael Keiner ◽

Andreas Kapsecker ◽

Tobias Stefer ◽

Björn Kadlubowski ◽

Klaus Wirth

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Male Youth ◽

Squat Jump ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Change Of Direction ◽

Talent Selection ◽

Selection Test

The aim of this investigation was to analyze significant differences in performance depending on the level of play (elite vs. amateur) in youth soccer players (under 17 years. old (U17) and U19). A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 45 elite and amateur male youth soccer players (16.56 ± 0.9 years old) were evaluated in their performances in squat jump (SJ), 10 m linear sprint (LS), 20 m LS, 505 agility test (505) and Illinois agility test (IAT). Differences in performances were analyzed with a 2 × 2 MANOVA, post-hoc ANOVAs, and Hedges’ g (g) for pairwise comparisons of subgroups (level of play and age group). This investigation showed that the elite player performance was significantly (p < 0.05) better in all performance tests than amateur players in both age groups. Interestingly, this investigation showed that the more complex the target exercise, the larger the effect sizes for group differences (SJ: g = 0.64–1.18, LS: g = 0.05–2.23, change-of-direction (COD): g = 3.01–6.84). The SJ, LS, 505, and IAT may prove useful in talent selection test batteries to separate between competitive levels in youth soccer players.

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Modeling Developmental Changes in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 in Elite Pubertal Soccer Players

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2013-0368 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 1006-1012 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Dieter Deprez ◽

Joao Valente-dos-Santos ◽

Manuel Coelho e Silva ◽

Matthieu Lenoir ◽

Renaat M. Philippaerts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fat Mass ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

Fat Free Mass ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Aerobic Performance ◽

Recovery Test ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Biological Maturation ◽

Level 1 ◽

Test Level

Purpose:To model the development of soccer-specific aerobic performance, assessed by the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 in 162 elite pubertal soccer players, age 11–14 y at baseline.Methods:Longitudinal multilevel modeling analyses comprised predictors related to growth (chronological age, body size [height and weight] and composition [fat mass, fat-free mass]), and motor coordination [3 Körperkoordination Test für Kinder subtests: jumping sideways, moving sideways, backward balancing] and estimated biological-maturation groups (earliest [>percentile 33] and latest maturers [>percentile 66]).Results:The best-fitting model on soccer-specific aerobic performance could be expressed as –3639.76 + 369.86 × age + 21.38 × age2 + 9.12 × height – 29.04 × fat mass + 0.06 × backward balance. Maturity groups had a negligible effect on soccer-specific aerobic performance (–45.32 ± 66.28; P > .05).Conclusion:The current study showed that the development of aerobic performance in elite youth soccer is related to growth and muscularity and emphasized the importance of motor coordination in the talentidentification and -development process. Note that biological maturation was excluded from the model, which might endorse the homogeneity in estimated biological-maturation status in the current elite pubertal soccer sample.

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Body Physique, Body Composition, Physical Performance, Technical and Tactical Skills, Psychological Development, and Club Characteristics of Young Male Portuguese Soccer Players: The INEX Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073560 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3560

Author(s):

Maryam Abarghoueinejad ◽

Daniel Barreira ◽

Cláudia Dias ◽

Eduardo Guimarães ◽

Adam D. G. Baxter-Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Age Groups ◽

Young Male ◽

Physical Growth ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Age Cohorts ◽

Biological Maturation ◽

Age Related

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.

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The Relative Age Effect on Anthropometry, Body Composition, Biological Maturation and Motor Performance in Young Brazilian Soccer Players

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/hukin-2021-0017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 77 (1) ◽

pp. 147-157

Author(s):

Juliana Melo Altimari ◽

Leandro Ricardo Altimari ◽

Henrique Bortolotti ◽

Adalberto Ferreira Junior ◽

Juliano Moro Gabardo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Lean Body Mass ◽

Body Mass ◽

Motor Performance ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Performance Variables ◽

Relative Age ◽

Relative Age Effect ◽

Biological Maturation ◽

Talent Selection

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the influence of months of birth on anthropometry, body composition, biological maturation, and motor performance in young Brazilian soccer players. Young Brazilian soccer players from the Under-13 (n = 50; 13.6 ± 0.3 years), Under-15 (n = 50; 15.5 ± 0.4 years), and Under-17 categories (n = 46; 17.7 ± 0.3 years) took part in this study. Athletes were divided according to chronological age, 1st tertile (January to April); 2nd tertile (May to August); and 3rd tertile (September to December). Anthropometry, body composition, biological maturation, and motor performance variables were evaluated for all participants. There were no differences between the U-13, U-15, and U-17 categories regarding birth tertiles (p > 0.05). Differences between the ages and birth tertiles were observed for the stature, body mass, and lean body mass (p < 0.05). Moreover, differences were found in maturational status between the ages and birth tertiles (p < 0.05). In general, U-13 players showed lower values compared to U-15 and U-17 players in tests of motor performance. In addition, there was a difference in motor performance between the birth tertiles only for RSA variables. The months of birth influenced the stature, body mass, lean body mass, and repeated sprint ability in the U-13 and U-15 categories. Thus, care should be taken during the process of talent selection, as many young players could be underestimated due to their date of birth.

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Aerobic fitness profile of youth soccer players: effects of chronological age and playing position

Brazilian Journal of Kinanthropometry and Human Performance ◽

10.5007/1980-0037.2016v18n6p700 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 700 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Giovani Dos Santos Cunha ◽

André Luís Lopes ◽

Jeam Marcel Geremia ◽

Gabriela Tomedi Leites ◽

Bruno Manfredini Baroni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Peak Oxygen Uptake ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Chronological Age ◽

Position Effects ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Biological Maturation ◽

Maximal Aerobic Speed ◽

Fitness Parameters ◽

Positive Effect

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2016v18n6p700 To establish a profile of the aerobic fitness in young soccer players, it is critical to consider different intervenient factors such as maturity status, chronological age and playing position. The aim of this study was to identify the biological maturation, chronological age, and playing position effects on physical and physiological characteristics of young soccer players. Two hundred and one soccer players of 11-19 years old were divided into groups relative to their maturity status, chronological age and playing position. A maximal exercise test was performed to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2) parameters in a treadmill. Biological maturation showed no significant effect on relative values (mL.kg-1.min-1) of VO2peak, VT2 and VT1 (0.004 < h2 < 0.039), but showed large positive effect on maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and speed at VT2 (VT2speed). Chronological age showed a medium positive effect on relative values of VO2peak, VT2 and VT1 (0.095 < h2 < 0.137) and a large positive effect on MAS and VT2speed. Relative values of VO2peak and VT1 showed no significant differences among groups for playing position (P>0.05; 0.044 < h2 < 0.051). However, goalkeepers showed significant lower relative values for VT2 and VT2speed than other playing positions and a medium positive effect was observed (P<0.05; 0.077 < h2 < 0.119). Chronological age showed a medium to large positive effect on aerobic fitness parameters, while biological maturation showed a positive effect only on MAS and VT2speed. Playing position showed a medium positive effect on VT2 and VT2speed.

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