Influence of linear-sprint performance, concentric power and maximum strength on change of direction performance in elite youth soccer players

Abstract

Change of direction (COD) performance has an essential role in soccer. In the literature, there is a wide range of explained variance in correlation analyses between linear-sprint performance, concentric power and maximum strength and COD performance. Therefore this study has (1) analyzed the influence of linear-sprint performance, concentric power and maximum strength on COD performance in elite youth soccer players and (2) compared the calculated influence on the different COD tests. To answer the research questions, 67 elite youth soccer players were tested. The linear-sprint (10 m, [LS]) performance, concentric power (squat jump [SJ]) and maximum strength (1 repetition maximum [1 RM]) and COD (measured via the Illinois agility test [IAT], the 505 agility test [505], the agility test of the German Soccer Association [GewT], and the triangle test [TriT]) were assessed. The Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship. Benjamini and Hochberg’s method, which was used to control the study-wise false discovery rate, was 0.05. The LS performance had the greatest impact on COD performance with a wide range of explained variance between the different COD tests (r2 = 0.18 to 0.39). However, SJ compared to LS performance had lower influence, but also a wide range of explained variance (r2 = −0.02 to −0.29). Correlations for 1 RM and COD test were calculated with r2 = −0.01 to −0.09. Thus, (1) the greater the similarity between the performance tests (i.e., LS, SJ, 1 RM) and the COD tests, the higher the explained variance between the variables in question. Furthermore, (2) as the different COD tests are affected to different degrees by linear-sprint, concentric power and maximum strength performance, it might be concluded that the tests have a different physiological requirement profile. Therefore, coaches and sport scientists must review and select different tests with logical validity, based on the requirement profiles of soccer.

Different change of direction tests assess different physical ability parameters: Principal component analysis of nine change of direction tests

“…This has important implications for training design. Both maneuverability and CoD ability have been previously shown to be related to linear sprinting, 3,13,[21][22][23][24] which is also confirmed by statistically significant correlations between CoD tests and 30 m sprint. The performance of "pure" CoD tests (e.g.…”

“…25,26 On the other hand, Illinois test performance does not appear to be related to strength. 21 Together with previous studies utilizing principal component analysis, the differences in determinants underlying the performance of CoD and maneuverability test indicate that these two abilities might need to be tested separately. This is an important and practically relevant aspect, since athletes in many sports are required to perform both sharp and quick CoDs, 27 or curvilinear running, resembling maneuverability tests.…”

“…Several small to large correlations between CoD tests and 30 m sprint time were observed. Previous reports on the strength of the relationship between CoD ability and speed are equivocal, 3,[21][22][23][24] however, linear speed ability unquestionably influences the results of CoD tests to some extent. It has been stressed that only approximately 31% of the time taken to complete the 505 test is spent changing the direction of movement.…”

“…The performance of both CoD and maneuverability tests is underpinned by linear sprinting ability. 3,13,21–24 In addition, the performance of CoDs with sharp turns, such as in 505 test or 180° cone turn, is positively related with concentric and eccentric strength. 25,26 On the other hand, Illinois test performance does not appear to be related to strength.…”

“…Additionally, 30-m sprint test was added to the analysis because the linear speed ability has been shown to be strongly related to CoD ability. 3,13,21–24 We hypothesized that at least two different components will be detected with principal component analysis. We expected that one component will reflect CoD ability (e.g.…”