Abstract
Strength training is crucial for soccer players’ long-term development at early ages and the biological maturation may influence specific strength-training adaptations. The aim of this study was to propose a strength-training programme for the strength development of pre-pubertal players and to analyse the adaptations to this training programme in players with different maturity status. One hundred and thirty young male soccer players participated in an 8-week strength-training programme consisting of two sessions per week (20-minutes of a combination of plyometric and resistance exercises) which was conducted prior to their normal soccer training. Three maturity groups were defined according to the years from/to their peak height velocity (PHV) as Pre-, Mid- and Post-PHV. Initial differences between the maturity groups were found in anthropometrical (weight and height) and physical performance variables (One Repetition Maximum (RM), Peak Power output (PP), 30-m sprint and T-test). The strength-training programme was beneficial for the three maturity groups (p< 0.05) with general greater improvements for the Pre- and Mid-PHV groups, with large effects in RM, PP and T-test, than for the Post-PHV group (moderate effects). The strength-training programme proposed in the present study seems to be positive for the strength-related development in young soccer players especially for Pre- and Mid-PHV players. The differences in the training adaptations for players with different maturity status suggest the individualization of the training stimulus for the correct long-term development of the players.
Highlights
Physical performance demands in soccer are related with maximal and explosive strength actions [1,2]. It is for this reason that strength training has become crucial in the players’ long-term development [3,4,5] and its evaluation can be used as a physical performance indicator in talent identification and selection processes at early ages [1]
Significant differences for repetition maximum strength (RM), power output (PP) and T-test were found between pre- and post-test evaluation for Pre, Mid- and Post-peak height velocity (PHV) (p< 0.05) while no significant differences were found for the control group (CG)
The main results in this study suggest that a strength-training (ST) programme focused on neuromuscular adaptations rather than on the structural improvements is beneficial for the strength development in youth soccer with generally greater improvements in Pre- and Mid-PHV groups
Summary
Physical performance demands in soccer are related with maximal and explosive strength actions [1,2]. Plyometric and resistance training methods have been reported as effective for the improvement of the strengthrelated actions in soccer, such as jumping, sprinting or changes of direction [5,6,7]. In this regard, plyometric training methodologies seem to achieve soccer-specific adaptations. Biological maturation and strength adaptations in young soccer players mainly by neuromuscular improvements [1,8] while resistance training is related with structural adaptations. In the sports research field, there is an increasing interest in the idea that supports that inter-individual differences in biological maturation between players of the same category may influence the strength-related performance as well as the specific adaptations to the strength training [1,9]
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