Abstract
There are a plethora of studies investigating agility in soccer; however, studies have rarely presented the reaction time in differentiating age groups in adolescent soccer players. We investigated age differences in reactive agility, speed, and change of direction speed (CODs), in a group of highly trained adolescent soccer players. A total of 75 adolescent male soccer players (aged 14–19 years) were recruited. The players were grouped based on their age to under 15 (U15; n = 27), under 17 (U17; n = 25), and under 19 (U19; n = 23) players. Players were tested for 5 m, 10 m, and 20 m sprint, CODs speed test, Illinois test, and reactive agility test (total and reaction time). Only the reactive agility test with a live tester (RAT live) and RAT live reaction time (RAT live RT) distinguished U19 from both groups, U17 (RAT live, p < 0.01; RAT RT live, p < 0.01) and U15 (RAT live, p < 0.01; RAT RT live, p < 0.01). Groups did not have different times for 5 m sprint, RAT light and RAT RT light, F = 0.472, 2.691, 1.023, respectively, p > 0.05. Moreover, a significantly slower average performance of sprint 20, CODs left and right, and Illinois was also observed in U15 as compared to U17 and U19 (p < 0.05). We can conclude that results in agility tests that include live testers can be a significant factor that differentiates between adolescent soccer players considering their age.
Highlights
The demands of modern soccer have changed significantly and increased in recent years
The under 15 (U15) needed significantly more time than under 19 (U19) to perform all tests, except sprint 5 m (p = 0.63), reactive agility tests (RATs) light (p = 0.08), and RAT RT light (p = 0.37), which were similar across the age groups
A significantly slower average performance of sprint 20, change of direction speed (CODs) left and right, and Illinois was observed in U15 as compared to under 17 (U17) and U19
Summary
The demands of modern soccer have changed significantly and increased in recent years. Players are required to have more power and to cover greater distances, with more frequent changes in intensity [1,2,3]. As soccer is considered to be a sport that requires that attackers evade their opponents’ pressures or tackles, and defenders reduce space on the field in order to limit attacking movements or potentially achieve a turnover, having good change of direction speed (CODs) and agility is beneficial [8]. In the last few decades, change of direction speed and reactive agility were considered to be the same skill [9]. Nowadays, pre-planned agility may be defined as sprints with change of direction, while the reactive agility (RA) is classified as sprints with directional changes in response to a stimulus [10,11]. RA is based on greater levels of motor control, when compared to pre-planned CODs [12]
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