Normative Data and Physical Determinants of Multiple Sprint Sets in Young Soccer Players Aged 11–18 Years: Effect of Maturity Status

Abstract

Selmi, MA, Sassi, RH, Yahmed, MH, Giannini, S, Perroni, F, and Elloumi, M. Normative data and physical determinants of multiple sprint sets in young soccer players aged 11–18 years: Effect of maturity status. J Strength Cond Res 34(2): 506–515, 2020—The aims of the study were: (a) to establish normative data for repeated-sprint sets (RSS) test based on the maturity status (age at peak height velocity [PHV]) and (2) to investigate the relationship between anthropometrical variables (stature, sitting height, body mass, and body fat percentage), RSS (2 × 5 × 20 m with 15-second recovery between sprints and 1-minute recovery between sets), and fitness tests {squat jump, countermovement jump, standing long jump, standing triple jump, 5-jump test, and 20-m shuttle run (multistage shuttle run test [MSRT])}. Young male soccer players (n = 262; age: 14.5 ± 2.9 years) were evaluated and classified into 4 groups according to their maturity status: pre-PHV, circum-PHV1, circum-PHV2, post-PHV. An analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc were used to determine maturity group differences (p ≤ 0.05), whereas Pearson's correlation was used between variables. Repeated-sprint sets' indices (sum of sprint times [SST] and best sprint time [BST]) were significantly different between the maturity groups. Significant correlations between SST with body mass (from −0.73 to −0.33) and MSRT (from −0.49 to −0.30) among each maturity group were found. With the different maturity groups, correlations between SST (s), BST (s), and vertical jump (cm) (r = −0.63 to −0.25 and r = −0.68 to −0.23) and horizontal jump (m) (r = −0.70 to −0.38 and r = −0.63 to −0.43) were observed. Repeated-sprint sets' values improve during maturation of young soccer players and the correlations between RSS and fitness tests vary through the maturity groups. This information could be useful for the coach to identify talent and to prescribe specific physical training to improve performance.

Repeated Sprint Ability and Muscular Responses According to the Age Category in Elite Youth Soccer Players

“…Therefore, these outcomes suggest that the speed training should be more specific from the U16 age category onwards. Whereas, the use of RSA protocols for talent identification should be applied once players surpass the peak height velocity period (Perroni et al, 2018b ; Selmi et al, 2018 ). It is important to consider that the characteristics of each repeated-sprint ability test (recovery duration, number of sprints, distance, etc.)…”

“…Previous research has pointed out that the repeated sprint ability (RSA) is related to physiological parameters such as maximal oxygen uptake or muscle phosphocreatine degradation/resynthesis among others (Spencer et al, 2005 ). Recent research has reported percentile values of repeated sprint performance of young soccer player classified by maturity status (Selmi et al, 2018 ).…”

“…The biological maturation varies substantially in duration and timing among individuals (Baxter-Jones et al, 2005 ). Recent studies have focused on the anthropometric and physical profiles (Perroni et al, 2018a ; Selmi et al, 2018 ) but it is surprising that limited information exists on RSA in elite youth soccer players (Mujika et al, 2009 ), specifically about muscle responses of the players.…”

Contrary to endurance, power associated capacities differ between different aged and starting-nonstarting elite junior soccer players

“…More research to clarify both assumptions is needed. Thereby, in elite junior soccer players, it is important to control for the interindividual variation in the maturity status [9], for example, by peak height velocity measures [42]. Since biological and chronological ages can differ up to four years [43], the different maturation processes may have had an impact on our measures; especially, in our younger age groups.…”

“…In soccer, it is accepted that anthropometric characteristics and physical capacities like muscle mass, speed, agility, repeated sprint ability, power, strength, maximum oxygen uptake, and intermittent endurance are important prerequisites to fulfill the playing demands [2,8]. Thus, in soccer, knowledge of anthropometric characteristics and physical capacities is essential to optimize the training process on an individual basis [8], for example, according to the age of the players [9,10]. In elite junior soccer players, it is known that the muscle mass [11,12], repeated sprint ability [13], strength and power [14,15], and speed [3,10,12,14,16,17] capacities increase with maturation and training experience.…”