Relationship between maturity levels and neuromuscular capacity among youth soccer players and individuals not practicing soccer

Abstract

<p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:'Arial','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;">The aim of this study was to compare maturational stage and neuromuscular skills among soccer players and non-athletes, as well as to investigate the relationship between maturation and neuromuscular performance. Twenty five adolescent males (14.3 ± 0.45 years) participated in the study and were divided into two groups: soccer players (SP – n = 13, 14.1 ± 0.3 years, 58.9 ± 6.90 kg, 1.72 ± 0.04 m, 19.9 ± 1.7 kg·m², 13.3% ± 4.3% fat) and non-athletes (NA – n = 12, 14.5 ± 0.5 years, 57.3 ± 6.9 kg, 1,67 ± 0.06 m, 20.6 ± 3.9 kg·m², 14.0% ± 5.7% fat). The square test and 20 m speed test were used to assess agility and speed, respectively. The Tanner self-assessment of pubic hair and genitalia development test was used to estimate maturational development. The <span>Shapiro Wilk test was used to verify the</span> normality of samples. For any data not normally distributed, the non-parametric Mann Whitney test, as well as Kendall’s Tau correlation test, were used. The p-values determined for agility (p = 0.017) and speed (p = 0.054) indicated that agility was the only variable significantly different between SP and NA. The SP and NA groups showed no difference in the levels of maturation (p = 0.41), and maturational status was not significantly correlated with agility (r = 0.013) or speed (r = ?0.003). Conclusion: Individuals who practiced football had better results for the agility test than non-athletes, even with no difference between the degree of maturation and speed. There is a low correlation between level of maturity and agility or speed.</span> </p

Effect of 12-week SPARQ training on the ability of youth football players

“…The athlete's ability to change direction quickly is collectively reflected in the Illinois test [14], the Nebraska test [15], the T-run [16], the square run [17], and the 505 Test [4], which consist of a rapid change of direction of body movement within a short period, or a continuous change of direction of body movement. Accordingly, the experimental results of these tests can well indicate the athlete's ability to react and perform, which is generally succeeded by a high of explosive power and reflexes.…”

Metric Characteristics of Tests Assessing Speed and Agility in Youth Soccer Players

“…Ball possession, total shots on goal and assists contribute most to the fi nal team placement in a competition (Lago-Peñas, Lago-Ballesteros, Dellal, & Gómez, 2010) Th ere have been some studies (Buchheit, Mendez-Villanueva, Delhomel, Brughelli, & Ahmaidi, 2010;Mujika, Santisteban, Impellizzeri, & Castagna, 2009) that suggest that abilities such as speed, agility, and explosive power are more determinant of success than others. By reaching puberty, which is marked by signifi cant release of hormones, increase of height and body mass, and most importantly, increase of muscle mass, biologically more mature individuals are enabled to demonstrate greater force per unit of time and therefore achieve better results in sprint tests (De Matos et al, 2013;Le Gall, Carling, Williams, & Reilly, 2010;Malina, Eisenmann, Cumming, Ribeiro, & Aroso, 2004), repeated sprint (Mendez-Villanueva et al, 2011), explosive power (Chuman, Hoshikawa, & Lida, 2009;Figueiredo, Gonçalves, Coelho E Silva, & Malina, 2009), and agility (De Matos et al, 2013;Figueiredo et al, 2009).…”