Mechanical determinants of acceleration and maximal sprinting speed in highly trained young soccer players

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine, in highly trained young soccer players, the mechanical horizontal determinants of acceleration (Acc) and maximal sprinting speed (MSS). Eighty-six players (14.1 ± 2.4 year) performed a 40-m sprint to assess Acc and MSS. Speed was measured with a 100-Hz radar, and theoretical maximal velocity (V), horizontal force (F) and horizontal power (P) were calculated. Within each age group, players were classified as high Acc/fast MSS (>2% faster than group mean), medium (between -2% and +2%), and low/slow (>2% slower). Acc and MSS were very largely correlated (-0.79; 90% confidence limit [-0.85; -0.71]). The determinants (multiple regression r = 0.84 [0.78; 0.89]) of Acc were V (partial r: 0.80 [0.72; 0.86]) and F (0.57 [0.44; 0.68]); those of MSS (r = 0.96 [0.94; 0.97]) were V (0.96 [0.94; 0.97]) and P (0.73 [0.63; -0.80]). High/Med have likely greater F (Cohen's d: +0.8 [0.0; 1.5]), V (+0.6 [-0.1; 1.3]) and P (+0.9 [0.2; 1.7]) than Low/Med. High/Fast have an almost certainly faster V (+2.1 [1.5; 2.7]) and a likely greater P (+0.6 [-0.1; 1.3]) than High/Med, with no clear differences in F (-0.0 [-0.7; 0.6]). Speed may be a generic quality, but the mechanical horizontal determinants of Acc and MSS differ. While maximal speed training may improve both Acc and MSS, improving horizontal force production capability may be efficient to enhance sprinting performance over short distances.

Differences in the Force Velocity Mechanical Profile and the Effectiveness of Force Application During Sprint-Acceleration Between Sprinters and Hurdlers

“…The differences in sprinting acceleration performance between sprinters and hurdlers may be more explained by differences in the mechanical effectiveness of force application between the events and especially by the ability to apply more effectively the force into the anteroposterior direction. These results are in agreement with previous studies that have revealed that highlevel athletes are able to horizontally apply higher forces upon contact with the ground (Morin et al, 2011;Buchheit et al, 2014;Kawamori et al, 2014;Pantoja et al, 2016;Jiménez-Reyes et al, 2018b).…”

“…The horizontal F-V-P profile provides information for the specific sprint-acceleration motion, while the vertical F-V-P profile provides information for the maximal levels of force, and velocity of the neuromuscular system (Morin and Samozino, 2016). The F-V-P profile is able to distinguish differences in the mechanical properties of athletes from different sports, levels of practice, playing positions, age, and sex (Buchheit et al, 2014;Cross et al, 2015;Slawinski et al, 2017;Alcazar et al, 2018;Jiménez-Reyes et al, 2018a,b;Haugen et al, 2019).…”

Differences in the acceleration, change of direction and jumping capacity between different ages soccer players

“…No hemos encontrado ningún estudio que analice la fuerza horizontal en función de la edad en futbolistas. Un estudio realizado con jóvenes jugadores de fútbol afirma que la capacidad de generar fuerza en el eje horizontal puede tener implicaciones directas en la capacidad de sprintar, especialmente en distancias cortas (Buchheit et al, 2014). En este sentido sería interesante medir esta capacidad en jugadores de fútbol de distintas categorías con el fin de respaldar la idea de que los test de salto horizontal pueden ser un buen instrumento para analizar el rendimiento en categorías jóvenes y analizar si existe relación con la capacidad de generar fuerza en el eje horizontal.…”

“…A pesar de la importancia que tiene la fuerza en el componente horizontal (Ronnestad, Kvamme, Sunde & Raastad, 2008), son pocos los estudios que han analizado este aspecto en el fút-bol (Katis & Pellis, 2009;Ronnestad et al, 2008). Una investigación reciente realizada con jovenes futbolistas (14.1 ± 2.4 años) expone que mejorar la capacidad de producción de fuerza horizontal puede ser eficaz para mejorar el rendimiento de sprint en distancias cortas (Buchheit et al, 2014). Por tanto, pueden ser necesarios más estudios que analicen el salto horizontal (SH) en el fútbol haciendo una diferenciación por categorías, edades o niveles.…”

Mechanical Misconceptions: Have we lost the "mechanics" in "sports biomechanics"?

“…However, this is not always how power is used or computed in the literature. Specifically, sports biomechanists often split power into its 'components', as though it were a vector quantity; for example, reporting 'vertical' or 'horizontal' power (e.g., [47,48,49,50]). In a strict mechanical sense, these quantities are not real powers.…”