Young soccer players with higher somatic maturation are stronger, more powerful and faster than those with lower maturation

Abstract

The identification of young soccer players’ maturation level throughout puberty is crucial to verify the influence of aspects that interfere on sport performance, such as body height and physical capacities. The aim of the present study was to verify the differences in physical performance of young soccer players in maturation stages before and after peak height velocity. This study comprised 49 soccer players (14.49 ± 1.00 yrs) belonging to the youth teams of a club in the city of Fortaleza. Body weight, height and trunk-cephalic height were measured. Somatic maturation was estimated using distance in years from peak height velocity (DPHV). 10 Meters Sprint and 20 Meter Flying Sprint, Modified Illinois, Jump Height (CMJ), RAST and Yo Yo IRT 1 tests were applied. Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) and Confidence Intervals (CI = 90%) were used to compare the study variables (PRE-PHV vs POST-PHV). Our findings showed that POST-PHV group showed higher values in CMJ (3/3/97, Very likely) and RAST (peak, average, minimum power) and lower in the 20 Meter Flying Sprint (100/0/0, Most Likely) when compared to the PRE-PHV group. We concluded that young soccer players with somatic maturation after peak height velocity presented better capacity of lower limb strength, anaerobic power and speed.