Effects of Puberty on Jump and Sprint Performance in Young Futsal Players

Abstract

Futsal is a sport that involves motor actions with high intensity and short duration, especially vertical jumps and sprints, which require fast application of strength and speed. The evaluation and training of these physical capacities is a routine practice of coaches, especially in the base categories, which are the entry point for many children and adolescents aiming for a professional career in futsal. With regard to the training of this public, puberty is a factor that must be considered, as a natural biological process involving several bodily transformations that can influence the performance of these physical capacities, especially considering that the categories are divided by chronological age, which does not always correspond to pubertal age. The objective of this study was to conduct a literature review of body modifications during puberty, and how these can affect the aspects that determine good performance in jumps and sprints. It was verified that this phase is associated with hormonal changes, an increase in muscle mass, and anthropometric aspects, as well as the maturation of the neuromuscular functions and refinement of the more complex motor activities, such as locomotion. Together, these factors can favor the fast application of force, and better performance of these players in terms of motor activities. However, it is important to emphasize that although these factors increase and naturally favor the players' performance in terms of strength and speed, it is a phase in which specific types of training focused on the aspects that determine good performance are fundamental to increase these capacities and diminish other aspects that also occur with the bodily development, such as a transient decrease in motor coordination and balance due to the rapid growth spurt, and tissue stiffness, which can sometimes occur during this period. Level of evidence V; Expert Opinion.

Maturity-associated variations in anthropometry, physical fitness, and sport-specific skills among young male and female futsal players

“…Furthermore, other recent studies investigated the sports skills, match activities, and performance variables of both young and professional futsal players [17][18][19]. However, according to Alvares et al [20], there is scarce information about the role of puberty in the motor performance of futsal players. Correspondingly, to the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no previous report on the influences of maturity status on the physical and functional characteristics in young futsal players of both genders.…”

The Effect of Plyometric Training on Lower Body Strength in Preadolescent Athletes

“…Puberty is the phase that comprises these three aspects and usually occurs around 10 to 12 years of age in girls and between 12 and 14 years in boys. This phase is associated with morphological and hormonal changes, higher neuromuscular organization, and refinement of more complex motor activities such as locomotion" (Alvares et al, 2020).…”