Research article - (2012)11, 371 - 379
Longitudinal Study of Repeated Sprint Performance in Youth Soccer Players of Contrasting Skeletal Maturity Status
João Valente-dos-Santos1, Manuel J. Coelho-e-Silva1,, Vítor Severino1, João Duarte1, Raúl S. Martins1, António J. Figueiredo1, André T. Seabra2, Renaat M. Philippaerts3, Sean P Cumming4, Marije Elferink-Gemser5, Robert M. Malina6
1Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
2Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Portugal
3Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
4School of Health, University of Bath, England
5Center of Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
6Department of Kinesiology and Health Education - University of Texas at Austin and Research Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas, USA

Manuel J. Coelho-e-Silva
✉ Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física, Estádio Universitário Coimbra, Pavilhão-III, 3040-156 Coimbra, PORTUGAL
Email: mjcesilva@fcdef.uc.pt
Received: 22-04-2012 -- Accepted: 04-05-2012
Published (online): 01-09-2012

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the developmental changes in performance in a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test in young soccer players of contrasting maturity status. A total of 83 regional level Portuguese youth soccer players, aged 11-13 years at baseline was assessed annually. Stature, body mass, 7x34.2-m sprint protocol (25-s active recovery), 20-m multi-stage continuous shuttle endurance run and counter-movement jump (CMJ) without the use of the arms were measured. Fat-free mass (FFM) was determined by age and gender-specific formulas. Developmental changes in total sprint time across ages were predicted using multilevel modeling. Corresponding measurements were performed on an independent cross-sectional subsample of 52 youth soccer players 11-17 years to evaluate the predictive model. CA, CA2, maturational status (SA-CA), body size (mass and stature), FFM, aerobic endurance, lower limb explosive strength and annual volume training significantly improved the statistical fit of the RSA multilevel model. In ‘late’ maturing athletes, the best model for predicting change in RSA was expressed by the following equation: 86.54 - 2.87 x CA + 0.05 x CA2 - 0.25 x FFM + 0.15 x body mass + 0.05 x stature - 0.05 x aerobic endurance - 0.09 x lower limb explosive strength - 0.01 x annual volume training. The best fitting models for players who were ‘on time’ and ‘early’ maturing were identical to the best model for late maturing players, less 0.64 seconds and 1.74 seconds, respectively. Multilevel modeling provided performance curves that permitted the prediction of individual RSA performance across adolescent years in regional level soccer players.

Key words: young athletes, multilevel modeling, growth, maturation, short-term effort

Key Points
  • Repeated-sprint ability tests are a valuable sport-specific field test of sprint performance in youth soccer players. Here, the test had reasonable reliability and can be useful to trainers and coaches in the assessment of young athletes and in monitoring changes over time.
  • The total sprint time of youth soccer players advanced in biological maturation improves more, on average, than that of players who are on time (average) and late in maturation. The performance difference between early and late maturing players is consistent after about 13 years of age.
  • Multilevel modeling is a promising statistical technique for analyzing the development of functional capacity in a sport. It has the potential to provide useful information to assist trainers and coaches in evaluating and facilitating the development of individual players.








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