Examination of the Sprinting and Jumping Force-Velocity Profiles in Young Soccer Players at Different Maturational Stages.

Luis Miguel Fernández-Galván,Arturo Casado,Víctor Cuadrado-Peñafiel,Daniel Boullosa,Pedro Jiménez-Reyes

doi:10.3390/ijerph18094646

Abstract

The aim was to determine the relationships among components of the force-velocity (F-V) profiles in jumping and sprinting, with both biological and chronological ages in 89 young soccer players belonging to categories from U10 to U18. Participants performed countermovement jumps (CMJ) and 20-m sprint tests. F-V components assessed were associated with both maturity offset and chronological age, using correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. Horizontal (i.e., maximal theoretical force [F0] and velocity [V0], maximal power [Pmax] and F-V slope) and vertical (i.e., [F0] and [Pmax]) F-V components displayed very large correlations (i.e., 0.79 ≤ r ≤ 0.92) with both chronological age and maturity offset. The combination of sprinting Pmax and training experience and jumping F0 and training experience explained up to 94% of the variances in maturity offset and chronological age. Furthermore, similar correlations were found between sprinting and jumping performances, and components of the F-V profiles, and both maturity offset and chronological age. Identification of vertical jump and sprint mechanical determinants may assist in strengthening those components of the F-V profile which are weaker throughout the training process. Sprinting and jumping capabilities can be indistinctly monitored with respect to their chronological age or maturity offset in young soccer players.

Highlights

The macroscopic approach to assess sprinting and jumping abilities based on the force-velocity (F-V) relationship has gained increasing attention in the sport science community [1,2]
The aims of this study were to determine the relationships between performance and the different components of the F-V profile in jumping and sprinting, and the maturity offset and chronological age of young soccer players, and to compare relationships between maturity offset and chronological age for jumping and sprinting
The frequent application of jumping and linear sprinting tests to obtain the forcevelocity profiles may provide useful information in young soccer players. In this sense identification of some sprint and jumping mechanical determinants such as F0, V0, Pmax and FV slope, and F0 and Pmax, respectively, at a specific age or maturation status in young soccer players, may assist to strengthen those components of the F-V profile which are weaker throughout the training process

Summary

Introduction

The macroscopic approach to assess sprinting and jumping abilities based on the force-velocity (F-V) relationship has gained increasing attention in the sport science community [1,2]. The horizontal and vertical F-V profiles are used to measure the individual performance characteristics displayed in horizontal sprint and vertical jump tests [2,3]. The F-V relationship can be modelled from the measurement of the force and velocity performed during vertical jumps against two or more loads [4,5] and from the velocity during a maximal horizontal sprint test [2]. Recent studies have demonstrated the optimal development of jumping and sprinting performances during the training process through the use of the F-V profile in adults [1,6]. Previous studies have confirmed the link between athletes’ performance in different sports with the different mechanical variables of the F-V profiles generated from jumping and sprinting tests [7,8,9]. Several studies have already reported the F-V profile of soccer players [9,10,11,12], providing reference values of the sprint

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Discussion

Conclusion