How does curve sprint evolve across different age-categories in soccer players?

Abstract

Research has shown that soccer players regularly execute curved sprints during matches. The purpose of this study was to determine the age-related effects on curve sprint (CS) performance to both sides, asymmetry, and association with linear sprint (LS). Eighty-four soccer players (aged 16.1 ± 1.6 categorized in U15, U17, and U20) were recruited, who performed CS and LS tests. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and effect size (ES) were used to compare CS performance between age categories, and relationships between physical performance measures were calculated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The main findings of this study were that: 1) there were significant differences in the “good” side CS among age groups (p < 0.001; ES from moderate to large), but not in the “weak” side CS, 2) curve asymmetry was significantly higher in U20 than U15 (p < 0.05; ES large) and U17 players (p < 0.05; ES moderate), and 3) relationships between CS and LS times decreased with age (from significant and very large [p < 0.001] to non-significant and smallmoderate [p > 0.05]). This study highlights the importance of assessing and training CS in different age categories, an action that becomes less correlated with LS as age increases, with the aim of mitigating the increase in asymmetries as a result of the specialization process, focusing interventions mainly on improving the CS “weak” side.

Effects of a Short-Term Detraining Period on the Strength Deficit and Functional Performance of Highly Trained Soccer Players

“…Therefore, these respective capacities are considered key elements during the organization and planning of strength and conditioning practices in soccer (25,47). Importantly, throughout soccer matches, sprint efforts occur over different trajectories, intensities, and distances, involving curved paths, rapid accelerations and decelerations, and aggressive directional changes (4,5,10). The concomitant development of these multiple sprint-related capabilities is extremely challenging for coaches, who frequently have to deal with congested training and match schedules, which, combined with high volumes of aerobic stimuli across the competitive season, tend to compromise the adequate prescription and reduce the effectiveness of sprint-specific training in soccer (25,36).…”

High-intensity Actions in Elite Soccer: Current Status and Future Perspectives

“…In a more applied perspective, contextualized HIA implies the individualization of these activities, however this concept seems not yet to be widely implemented. Although some HIA are interrelated during early stages of the soccer career, skill differentiation will inevitably occur as a consequence of the specialization process [67]. According to recent findings, when athletes achieve high levels of physical maturation and experience, skills that seemed similar (e. g. COD and agility) are usually manifested as independent skills [67,68].…”

“…Although some HIA are interrelated during early stages of the soccer career, skill differentiation will inevitably occur as a consequence of the specialization process [67]. According to recent findings, when athletes achieve high levels of physical maturation and experience, skills that seemed similar (e. g. COD and agility) are usually manifested as independent skills [67,68]. Furthermore, movement coordination pattern is exclusively unique to individuals at the end of the specialization process, and even among players with similar playing positions (and similar game tasks), the coordination pattern could be different among individuals [69].…”

“…However, during matchplay, recent studies have reported that most sprints are not purely linear, but rather have a curvilinear trajectory [26,72,73] [sprint with gradual and continuous redirections]. A previous work reported positive correlations ranging from "moderate" (r = 0.39) to "very large" with a meaningful correlation (r = 0.79) between linear and curve sprints [67]. Further, another study has shown a "large" relationship between both non-linear tasks (curve sprints, COD-90º) and linear sprints, and a "moderate" relationship between curve sprints and COD tests (r = 0.37) (▶Fig.…”

Curved sprinting in soccer: The influence of radius

“…12 By contrast, other studies found higher correlations of r = 0.67-0.76, 15 r = 0.74-0.82, 14 and even r = 0.93-0.95, 16 which might be attributed to other age groups and performance levels of players being investigated. 17 However, only the abovementioned CS test using a radius of 9.15 m was applied in all of these studies. Conversely, as neuromuscular and biomechanical differences are evident between LS and CS due to the emerging centrifugal forces during the latter, 18 changing the radius during CS might also alter such neuromuscular and biomechanical characteristics, and therefore, performance in the respective tasks.…”