Soccer-specific training is easily associable to players’ sprint abilities demonstrated during a match. However, no clear evidence has been provided to show whether this approach is more effective than training focused on running techniques for sprints in prepubescent soccer players. Thus, the present study aimed at comparing the effects of these two training approaches on prepubescent soccer players’ sprint performances. Ninety-five players (10±2 years) competing in local (Piedmont, Italy) Under-9 (N=21), -10 (N=24), -11 (N=25) and -13 (N=25) championships were recruited for the study. Sixty-three and 32 players were included in the running training group (RTG) and soccer-specific group (SSG), respectively. Before (PRE) and after (POST) the training period (2 weekly sessions for 12 weeks), sprint abilities were evaluated by means of four 20-m sprint tests: linear sprint (20-mL), linear sprint with ball possession (20-mLB), sprint with change of direction (20-mCoD), sprint with change of direction and with ball possession (20-mCoDB). A linear mixed model was applied to evaluate differences (P≤0.05) between the RTG and SSG in the four tests and categories, comparing PRE and POST performances. A main effect emerged for the interaction between groups, sessions (p=0.014; Between PRE ES range=0.03, 0.85; Within PRE-POST ES range=-0.45, 0.09), highlighting a POST improvement of RTG for the 20-mLB (Δ=-7.9%; ES=0.85) and 20-mCoDB (Δ=-5.9%; ES=0.33). In contrast, no improvements emerged for the SSG. The present findings indicate that the training approach of the RTG is more able to improve prepubescent soccer players’ sprint performances than that of the SSG, with the emphasis on ball possession executions, which are particularly game-related.

To quantify the junior-to-senior successful transition rate in swimming sprinting events in elite European performers. DesignRetrospective analysis of publicly available competition data collected between 2004 and 2019. MethodThe yearly performance of 6631 European swimmers (females = 41.8% of the sample) competing in 50 and 100m freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly were included in the analysis. The junior-to-senior transition rate was determined as the number of elite junior athletes that maintained their elite status in adulthood. To investigate how the definition of elite may affect the calculation of the transition rate, we operationally defined elite athletes as those ranked in the all-time top 10, 25, 50, and 100 in their category. We also calculated the correlation between junior and senior performances. ResultsThe average transition rates ranged, depending on age of reference, from 10 to 26% in males and from 23 to 33% in females. The transition rate for top 100 junior swimmers was greater than for top 10. In general, the 50m distance showed a slightly lower transition rate compared to the 100m distance.Depending on the age of reference, low-to-moderate correlations were observed between junior and senior peak performances. ConclusionsMost elite junior athletes did not maintain the elite level in adulthood. Except for the last year of the junior category (18 yrs for males and 17 yrs for females), junior performances are poorly related to senior ones.

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Studi recenti mostrano come il periodo di pandemia da COVID-19 abbia influenzato significativamente lo stile di vita e le prestazioni motorie di soggetti in età pediatrica. Lo studio si pone l’obiettivo di analizzare l’impatto del periodo di pandemia da COVID-19 riguardo alle competenze motorie di base in soggetti in età prescolare. I risultati di valutazioni delle competenze motorie di base (FMS) (corsa, salto e lancio) di bambini di età compresa tra i 3 e i 6 anni, valutate nei tre anni precedenti il periodo di pandemia da COVID-19, sono stati paragonati con i risultati di valutazioni di FMS in un campione di bambini da 3 a 6 anni rilevati a seguito di tale periodo (maggio 2021). Eventuali differenze di competenza motoria in abilità ritenute fondamentali in numerose attività sportive e non sportive (FMS), a seguito di un forzato periodo di inattività in soggetti in età prescolare, potrà permetterci di comprendere, almeno in parte, il reale impatto che il periodo di pandemia da COVID-19 ha avuto, e avrà, nello sviluppo motorio di bambini da 3 a 6 anni di età.