Abstract
BackgroundSeveral studies have observed the contribution of chronological age, biological maturation, and anthropometric characteristics to sprinting performance in young soccer players. Nevertheless, there are no studies that have analysed the contribution of these characteristics to running speed qualities in adolescent female soccer players.ObjectiveThis study investigated age-related differences in sprint performance in adolescent female soccer players. Also, it examined the possible influence of anthropometry [body mass and body mass index (BMI)] and biological maturation [age at peak height velocity (APHV)] in sprint performance.MethodsEighty adolescent female soccer players [under (U) 14, n = 20; U16, n = 37; U18, n = 23] participated in this study. Players were tested for 40 m sprint (each 10 m split times).ResultsPosthoc analysis revealed better performance in all split sprint times of older soccer players (U18 and U16) compared with younger category (F: 3.380 to 6.169; p < 0.05; ES: 0.64 to 1.33). On the contrary in all split sprint times, there were no significant changes between U16 and U18 (p < 0.05; ES: 0.03 to 0.17). ANCOVA revealed differences in all parameters between groups, controlled for APHV (p < 0.05). In contrast, all between-group differences disappeared after body mass and BMI adjustment (p > 0.05). Finally, the results indicate that BMI and body mass were significantly correlated with 40 m sprint (p < 0.05; r: -0.31) and 20 m flying (p < 0.01; r: 0.38), respectively.ConclusionIn the present players’ sample, body mass and BMI had a significant impact on running speed qualities.
Highlights
Women’s soccer has increased in popularity and participation during the last decade [1]
All between-group differences disappeared after body mass and body mass index (BMI) adjustment (p > 0.05)
Notwithstanding, the inclusion of the estimation of maturity status (i.e., at peak height velocity (APHV)) as a covariate is significant. These results demonstrated that sprint differences between groups do not exis when the body mass and BMI effect is removed, which can mean that sprint differences are related to anthropometric characteristics
Summary
Women’s soccer has increased in popularity and participation during the last decade [1]. Nowadays, there is an increase of studies and research in this population due to the growth of this sport at early ages. In soccer, speed is considered a main determinant of performance [2, 3] and it is the most dominant action when scoring goals in young players from 13 to 16 years [4]. Despite increasing the popularity of soccer among female adolescents, there is a little information about the possible effect of age on sprint performance in this population. Several studies have observed the contribution of chronological age, biological maturation, and anthropometric characteristics to sprinting performance in young soccer players. There are no studies that have analysed the contribution of these characteristics to running speed qualities in adolescent female soccer players
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