Intra-seasonal variation of anthropometrical, conditional, and technical tests in U14 soccer players. [Variación en los parámetros antropométricos, condicionales y test técnicos de jugadores de fútbol SUB-14].

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the annual variation of soccer players abilities assessed by means of a field-battery test administered six times during an entire competitive season (from T0 to T5). Anthropometric (i.e., body mass, stature, and body mass index), soccer skill (i.e., touch with the body, touch with the head, passing, shooting, dribbling with pass, and dribbling) and functional capacities (i.e., counter-movement jump with and without free arms, and speed) tests were submitted to 33 Under-14 soccer players. A general improvement across the season as confirmed by the rising effects from 0.3 (T2) to 0.6 (T5) was showed. The technical skills (except touch with the head and dribbling) and functional tests showed significant differences (p < 0.001) between T0 and T5 but they were not dependent by the exposure to training. This study underlined that the skills' development in youth soccer players are not linear due to the effects of the growth and maturation. In order to optimize this process, in-season assessment are needed. Finally, programs and decisions promoted by coaches and scouts aimed to the development of youth soccer players should be inspired by the potential results that might be achieved by players.

Motor Performance in Male Youth Soccer Players: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies

“…All studies were from the European continent: eight were conducted in Portugal (25.8%) [19,22,[25][26][27][28][29][30], seven in Belgium (22.6%) [17,23,[31][32][33][34][35], four in the United Kingdom (12.9%) [36][37][38][39], three in the Netherlands (9.7%) [18,40,41], three in Spain (9.7%) [24,42,43], two in Italy (6.5%) [20,44]. Single studies were conducted in Austria [45], Finland [46], Germany [47], Switzerland [21], and Serbia [48] (Figure 2).…”

“…two in Italy (6.5%) [20,44]. Single studies were conducted in Austria [45], Finland [46], Germany [47], Switzerland [21], and Serbia [48] (Figure 2).…”

“…Motor performance, soccer-specific motor performance, and soccer-specific skills were distinctively assessed. Twenty-five studies [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][29][30][31][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][43][44][45][46][47]…”

“…Motor performance, soccer-specific motor performance, and soccer-specific skills were distinctively assessed. Twenty-five studies [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][29][30][31][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][43][44][45][46][47] used tests such as plate tapping, sit and reach, sit-ups, bent arm hang, standing long jump, vertical jump with and without free arm, endurance shuttle run, sprints (10,15,20, and 30 m), medicine ball throw 2 kg, multi-stage endurance run, agility (505 test, barrow zigzag run, 8-figure, T-Test hurdles run, slalom course, slalom running with obstacles) and the multistage fitness tests. Seventeen studies [17][18][19]21,[26][27][28][29]31,32,35,36,40,42,43,45,48] assessed soccer-specific motor performance, ...…”

“…Seventeen studies [17][18][19]21,[26][27][28][29]31,32,35,36,40,42,43,45,48] assessed soccer-specific motor performance, namely: 30 m repeated sprint (RSA), agility shuttle run 5 × 10 m (SHR), intermittent endurance (ISRT), the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Tests, slalom sprint and shuttle sprint. Additionally, a dozen [18,[20][21][22][27][28][29]38,41,44,46,47] of them also assessed soccer-specific skills including dribbling, dribbling with a pass, shooting, shooting accuracy, ball control, touch of the ball with the body and the head, juggling, passing, and wall pass.…”