Sport selection in under-17 male roller hockey

Abstract

Characteristics of 32 international and 41 local under-17 (U-17) (14.5-16.5 years) roller hockey players were considered in the context of discrimination by competitive level using training history, anthropometry, skeletal maturation, and several laboratory and field performance tests. More international (42%) than local (22%) players were advanced in maturity status. International players had slightly less hockey experience (years), but had more practice sessions and match time (minutes) during the season. Local players were shorter and attained better performance in the 25-m dash, while international players performed better in sit-ups, ball throw and 20-m shuttle run. The fatigue index derived from the Wingate anaerobic test was higher among local players, while peak torques of knee extension and flexion were greater in international players. Stepwise discriminant function correctly classified 85% of players by competitive level based on grip strength, ratio of eccentric and concentric knee extension, number of training sessions, playing time and fatigue index. The results suggested an interaction among strength, anaerobic fitness and training plus game time as factors in discriminating international from local level players and by inference in the selection and development of youth roller hockey players.

Differences in maturity, morphological and physical attributes between players selected to the primary and secondary teams of a Portuguese Basketball elite academy

“…The finding that team A players were taller and more mature than their team B counterparts suggests that players may be selected to team A as a product of their physical advantage. These findings are in line with conclusions of numerous studies conducted with young players of roller hockey (Coelho e Silva et al, 2012;Figueiredo, Coelhoe-Silva, Cummings, & Malina, 2010;Matthys, Vaeyens, Coelho e Silva, Lenoir, & Philippaerts, 2012;Torres-Unda et al, 2013).…”

Differences in Maturity, Morphological, and Fitness Attributes Between the Better- and Lower-Ranked Male and Female U-14 Portuguese Elite Regional Basketball Teams

“…Frequently, these differences are related to different maturity status of evaluated players, having early maturing practitioners bigger body sizes and better performances in physical tests than late maturing players (6,35,37). The contribution of growth and maturation to anthropometric characteristics, functional capacity, and performance of adolescent players is well documented in literature on different sports games (8,25). In ages of a high rate of growth and a faster acquisition of physical skills (which is the case of players of our study, particularly boys), small differences in biological maturation may imply substantial differences in motor and physical abilities, and consequently, may influence game performance.…”

Repeated Dribbling Ability in Young Soccer Players: Reproducibility and Variation by the Competitive Level

“…As in previous studies (Coelho-e-Silva et al, 2012; Freitas et al, 2014), a standing long jump (SLJ) was used to test power and a sit-up test was used to evaluate the dynamic endurance of abdominal muscles. Both tests were performed according to Council of Europe (1988) guidelines.…”