Maturation-, age-, and sex-specific anthropometric and physical fitness percentiles of German elite young athletes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish maturation-, age-, and sex-specific anthropometric and physical fitness percentile reference values of young elite athletes from various sports. Anthropometric (i.e., standing and sitting body height, body mass, body mass index) and physical fitness (i.e., countermovement jump, drop jump, change-of-direction speed [i.e., T-test], trunk muscle endurance [i.e., ventral Bourban test], dynamic lower limbs balance [i.e., Y-balance test], hand grip strength) of 703 male and female elite young athletes aged 8–18 years were collected to aggregate reference values according to maturation, age, and sex. Findings indicate that body height and mass were significantly higher (p<0.001; 0.95≤d≤1.74) in more compared to less mature young athletes as well as with increasing chronological age (p<0.05; 0.66≤d≤3.13). Furthermore, male young athletes were significantly taller and heavier compared to their female counterparts (p<0.001; 0.34≤d≤0.50). In terms of physical fitness, post-pubertal athletes showed better countermovement jump, drop jump, change-of-direction, and handgrip strength performances (p<0.001; 1.57≤d≤8.72) compared to pubertal athletes. Further, countermovement jump, drop jump, change-of-direction, and handgrip strength performances increased with increasing chronological age (p<0.05; 0.29≤d≤4.13). In addition, male athletes outperformed their female counterpart in the countermovement jump, drop jump, change-of-direction, and handgrip strength (p<0.05; 0.17≤d≤0.76). Significant age by sex interactions indicate that sex-specific differences were even more pronounced with increasing age. Conclusively, body height, body mass, and physical fitness increased with increasing maturational status and chronological age. Sex-specific differences appear to be larger as youth grow older. Practitioners can use the percentile values as approximate benchmarks for talent identification and development.

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

“…Our results showed that soccer players’ physical, performance and skill characteristics differ between age groupings, favoring the older and more mature players. A similar trend was also reported in young soccer players by Slimani and Nikolaidis [ 61 ] systematic review, and is supported by empirical research in athletic youth from individual and team sports [ 62 ], as well as in other studies of young soccer players [ 14 , 63 , 64 ]. During the adolescent growth spurt, age-differences in physical performance become pronounced [ 65 ] due to dissimilarities among players’ timing and tempo of their statural growth.…”

Biological Maturity Status, Anthropometric Percentiles, and Core Flexion to Extension Strength Ratio as Possible Traumatic and Overuse Injury Risk Factors in Youth Alpine Ski Racers: A Four-Year Prospective Study

“…A negative maturity offset indicated that the athlete was pre PHV, whereas a positive maturity offset indicated post PHV [16]. In accordance with Faigenbaum et al [19] and Lesinski et al [20], puberty status was classified as pre-pubertal: maturity offset −1 and smaller; pubertal: maturity offset between −1 and 1; and post-pubertal: maturity offset 1 and larger. A previous study [18] confirmed the validity of this APHV method for 10-to 13-year-old youth ski racers.…”

Influence of weekly physical exercises on indicators of biological age of student's youth

“…The authors note that the coaches should be aware of the process of identifying and developing talent as far as the maturity may influence the results of running at high speed. Lesinski et al [45] studied the control values of anthropometric and physical fitness percentiles for adults, age, and sex of young elite athletes. They recommend using percentiles in practice as approximate criteria to identify and develop talents.…”