Modeling Developmental Changes in Functional Capacities and Soccer-Specific Skills in Male Players Aged 11-17 Years

Abstract

This study evaluates the contributions of age, growth, skeletal maturation, playing position and training to longitudinal changes in functional and skill performance in male youth soccer. Players were annually followed over 5 years (n = 83, 4.4 measurements per player). Composite scores for functional and skill domains were calculated to provide an overall estimate of performance. Players were also classified by maturity status and playing position at baseline. After testing for multicollinearity, two-level multilevel (longitudinal) regression models were obtained for functional and skill composite scores. The scores improved with age and training. Body mass was an additional predictor in both models [functional (late maturing): 13.48 + 1.05 × centered on chronological age (CA)-0.01 × centered CA(2)-0.19 × fat mass (FM) + 0.004 × annual volume training-1.04 × dribbling speed; skills (defenders): 7.62 + 0.62 × centered CA-0.06 × centered CA(2) + 0.04 × fat-free mass-0.03 x FM + 0.005 × annual volume training-0.19 × repeated-sprint ability + 0.02 × aerobic endurance]. Skeletal maturity status was a significant predictor of functional capacities and playing position of skill performance. Sound accuracy of each multilevel model was demonstrated on an independent cross-sectional sample (n = 52).

Longitudinal Development of Explosive Leg Power from Childhood to Adulthood in Soccer Players

“…Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to provide insight into the factors accounting for longitudinal development of explosive leg power. Recently, several longitudinal studies have investigated the development of functional capacities and soccer-specific skills [37], repeated sprint ability [38], aerobic performance [39] and intermittent-endurance capacity [11] within young soccer players during the pubertal years (10-17 years). No such models are presented in the literature for explosive leg power, and little is known about the development before and after puberty in young soccer players, although information about the multilevel development of anaerobic power in school children is available [1,30].…”

Caracterização do perfil de jovens jogadores de futebol: uma análise das habilidades técnicas e variáveis antropométricas

“…Em relação à estatura e a massa corporal, o presente estudo encontrou resultados semelhantes aos encontrados na literatura específica desta temática (Abreu, 2008;Dias, 2007;Moore, Moore, Klentrou, Sullivan, & Falk, 2010;Neves, 2010;Valente-dos-Santos et al, 2012;Vandendriessche et al, 2012;Vänttinen, Blomqvist, Nyman, & Häkkinen, 2011). As medidas antropométricas parecem ser semelhantes, independente da nacionalidade.…”

“…No que refere-se ao desempenho técnico, autores têm analisado as habilidades motoras específicas do futebol por meio de testes específicos, como controle de bola, chute, condução de bola e passe (Federação Portuguesa de Futebol [FPF], 1986;Figueiredo, 2001;Kiekendall, Gruber, & Johnson, 1987;Malina et al, 2005;Seabra, Maia, & Garganta, 2001;Vaeyens et al, 2006;Valente-dos-Santos et al, 2012), verificando variabilidade nos resultados principalmente na idade entre 11 e 14 anos.…”

Bone age and height prediction of young Brazilian goalkeepers

“…During this phase the biological maturation process takes place, which consists in processes of specialization and cell differentiation until reaching the final growth stage [2] . From this, there is a considerable variation in size and performance of young athletes, influenced by the different stages of biological maturation each one is [3] , it may interfere significantly on their functional capabilities related to soccer [4] .…”

“…So, goalkeepers, central backs, defensive midfielders, side backs and forwards differ among each other by the particularities present in each function. However, the studies that evaluate these variations among the positions rarely include goalkeepers, and the profiling literature related to the stages of long term sports training still has a great gap [6,3] .…”