Sprint performance according to the maturation status of U-13 and U-14 players from a professional club
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v68.116539Keywords:
(Sprinting, speed meters, sports performance, athletes)Abstract
Introduction: In youth football, maturity-related changes in physical performance vary significantly between players. Aim: To compare sprint performance between U-13 and U-14 players of a professional club according to maturity level. Methodology: Non-experimental study with a quantitative, descriptive and comparative approach. The sample consisted of 47 U-13 and U-14 players from a professional club. Maximum height velocity (HPV) was estimated: pre-HPV (<-1.0 years, n=21), mid-HPV (-0.99 to 0.5 years, n=21) and post-HPV (>0.5 years, n=5). A 30-m sprint test was performed using a linear encoder, and results were obtained for force-velocity, maximal force (F0), velocity (V0) and power (Pmax) profiles. Results: V0 was higher in mid-versus pre-PHV (7.76± 0.74 vs 7.34± 0.7; Pb = 0. 015; ES=0.91); Pmax was higher in mid versus pre-PHV (813.84±211.79 vs 619.08± 123.8; Pb = 0.004; ES=1.05); Fmax was greater in mid- (440.96± 43.14 vs 351.07± 49. 16; Pb = < .001; ES=1.54); and 30-meter sprint time was lower in mid versus pre-PHV (4.78± 0.19 vs 5.12± 0.33; Pb=0.014; TE=0.91) and lower (Pb=0.085; TE=1.12) than PHV post (5.20± 0.91). Discussion: These findings indicate that biological age affects maximal velocity, maximum power, maximum strength, and sprint time in U-13 and U-14 players of a professional club. Conclusion: The results indicate differences in sprint performance among young soccer players, primarily between pre-PHV and mid-PHV stages.
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