Field based lower limb strength tests provide insight into sprint and change of direction ability in academy footballers

Professional soccer clubs invest significantly into the development of their academy prospects with the hopes of producing elite players. Talented youngsters in elite development systems are exposed to high amounts of sports-specific practise with the aims of developing the foundational skills underpinning the capabilities needed to excel in the game. Yet large disparities in maturation status, growth-related issues, and highly-specialised sport practise predisposes these elite youth soccer players to an increased injury risk. However, practitioners may scaffold a performance monitoring and injury surveillance framework over an academy to facilitate data-informed training decisions that may not only mitigate this inherent injury risk, but also enhance athletic performance. Constant communication between members of the multi-disciplinary team enables context to build around an individual’s training status and risk profile, and ensures that a progressive, varied, and bespoke training programme is provided at all stages of development to maximise athletic potential.

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“…• Isolated strength qualities during single-and multi-joint actions (e.g., isokinetics, Nordics) [127][128][129].…”

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confidence: 99%

Training Management of the Elite Adolescent Soccer Player throughout Maturation

McBurnie

Dos’Santos

Johnson

et al. 2021

Sports

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“…Jumping performance is frequently used to provide an indication of neuromuscular function and physical capacity in both adult and youth athletic populations [ 19 , 111 , 193 , 194 ]. The findings of this review suggest that jump height can be enhanced following the completion of a FIT intervention [ 43 , 69 , 171 , 173 – 175 , 177 , 178 ] (Table 4 ), which agrees with previous evidence [ 81 , 187 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building for the Future: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Eccentric Resistance Training on Measures of Physical Performance in Youth Athletes

Bright

Handford

Mundy³

et al. 2023

Sports Med

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Background Eccentric resistance training is recognised as an effective stimulus for enhancing measures of muscular strength and power in adult populations; however, its value in youth athletes is currently not well understood. Objective The aim of this systematic review was to critically appraise the effects of eccentric resistance training on measures of physical performance (i.e. muscular strength, jump, sprint and change of direction) in youth athletes 18 years of age and under. Methods Original journal articles published between 1950 and June 2022 were retrieved from electronic search engines of PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Google Scholar’s advanced search option. Full journal articles investigating the acute and chronic effects of eccentric resistance training on measures of physical performance in youth athletes (i.e. a person 18 years of age or under who competes in sport) were included. The methodological quality and bias of each study were assessed prior to data extraction using a modified Downs and Black checklist. Results The search yielded 749 studies, of which 436 were duplicates. Three-hundred studies were excluded based upon title and abstract review and a further 5 studies were removed following the modified Downs and Black checklist. An additional 14 studies were identified during backward screening. Accordingly, 22 studies were included in our systematic review. The Nordic hamstring exercise and flywheel inertial training were the most frequently used eccentric resistance training methods in youth athletes. Improvements in physical performance following the Nordic hamstring exercise are dependent upon an increase in the breakpoint angle, rather than training volume (sets and repetitions), and are further elevated with the addition of hip extension exercises or high-speed running. A minimum of 3 familiarisation trials is necessary to elicit meaningful adaptations following flywheel inertial training. Furthermore, an emphasis should be placed upon decelerating the rotating flywheel during the final one to two thirds of the eccentric phase, rather than gradually throughout the entire eccentric phase. Conclusions The findings of this systematic review support the inclusion of eccentric resistance training in youth athletes to improve measures of muscular strength, jump, sprint and change of direction performance. The current eccentric resistance training methods are predominantly limited to the Nordic hamstring exercise and flywheel inertial training; however, the efficacy of accentuated eccentric loading to improve jump performance warrants attention in future investigations.

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“…The hip complex has been comprehensively studied in male soccer players [1-3]. The development of the musculature involved around the hip complex (i.e., adductor and abductor muscles) are essential for performance (e.g., sprinting and change of direction) [ 4 ]. and injury prevention (e.g., knee/groin injuries) [ 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hip adduction and abduction strength profiles in elite and sub-elite female soccer players according to players level and leg limb-dominance

Jaenada-Carrilero,

Vicente-Mampel,

Baraja-Vegas

et al. 2024

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil

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Background Understanding the hip adduction and abduction strength in female soccer players is crucial for performance enhancement and injury prevention. This study compares the strength profiles in these muscle groups between elite and sub-elite female soccer players and assesses the impact of leg limb-dominance. Methods A descriptive-comparative study was employed. Eighty-two female soccer players were evaluated. Isometric hip-adduction and abduction strength were measured using a handheld dynamometer. Results Female elite and sub-elite soccer players displayed a mean and standard deviation (SD) on isometric hip-adductor strength for dominant (3.19 Nm/kg ± 0.69 vs. 2.40 Nm/kg ± 0.67) and non-dominant leg (3.32 Nm/kg ± 0.76 versus 2.42 Nm/kg ± 0.70), respectively. For isometric hip-abductor strength in elite and sub-elite players, a mean and SD of dominant (2.86 Nm/kg ± 0.56 vs. 2.07 Nm/kg ± 0.50) and non-dominant (2.80 Nm/kg ± 0.59 vs. 2.04 Nm/kg ± 0.43). In essence, elite players were stronger than sub-elite players on isometric hip-adduction (mean difference [MD] = 0.82 Nm/kg, CI95% = 0.42–1.12) and abduction (MD = 0.83 Nm/kg, CI95% = 0.54- 1.12) both in dominant and non-dominant, leg, whereas no differences existed for hip adduction:abduction ratios between groups and legs. Conclusions Elite female athletes exhibited greater strength than sub-elite female players in both hip adduction and abduction, whereas adduction:abduction ratio values did not differ between the two groups or between different legs.

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Field based lower limb strength tests provide insight into sprint and change of direction ability in academy footballers

Cited by 11 publications

References 40 publications

Training Management of the Elite Adolescent Soccer Player throughout Maturation

Training Management of the Elite Adolescent Soccer Player throughout Maturation

Building for the Future: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Eccentric Resistance Training on Measures of Physical Performance in Youth Athletes

Hip adduction and abduction strength profiles in elite and sub-elite female soccer players according to players level and leg limb-dominance

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