Relationship between functional movement screen and physical performance in elite young soccer players

Abstract

Backgroundː Soccer performance can be analyzed by different physical parameters such as linear speed and power. In addition, movement quality evaluations are used to assess individual functional capacity and a widely used tool is the functional movement screen (FMS). Objectives: The present study had three aims: 1) analyse the association of FMS final score and individual FMS scores with peak and relative muscle power and 10-m and 30-m sprints of young soccer players; 2) analyse the association between muscle power and speed from different categories controlled by FMS score; 3) compare peak and relative muscle power and 10-m and 30-m sprints between athletes with results of FMS >14 and < 14 scores in different categories. Methodsː Fifty-six Brazilian players from U15, U17, and U20 participated in the research. Subjects performed anthropometric measurements, FMS, muscle power, and 10-m, and 30-m sprint. Resultsː The results showed no association between FMS score and muscle power and speed (p > 0.05). However, stability-push-up showed small association with peak and relative muscle power (r = 0.28, p < 0.05; r = 0.29, p < 0.05, respectively). The in-line-lunge test showed inverse and small correlation with 10-m sprint (r = -0.28; p < 0.05). Relationship between peak and relative muscle power with 10-m and 30-m sprints showed moderate and small association in all categories, respectively (r = -0.76-0.32, p = 0.01). In addition, it was not found difference among players above and below 14 score. Conclusionː Based on these findings, the 14 score shows to be a weak cut-off value and it can be assumed that there are no association between FMS and power and speed in youth soccer.