The role of the biological maturation on performance indicators in young soccer players: multidimensional analysis by maturity status

Abstract

This study verified the effects of the maturity status on the interactions of young soccer players in small-sided games. The sample included 81 players (14.4 ± 1.1 years). Anthropometric measurements of body mass, height, sitting height, and bone age were obtained (TW3 method). The multidimensional evaluation involved the following tests: Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRT1), Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), Repeated Sprints Ability (RSA), observational analysis of techniques, and interactions performed by players in small-sided games. The relationship between the set of evaluated variables within each maturity status was obtained from the correlational analysis of networks (P > 0.05). The maturity status explained a significant portion of the variance in body mass (Ƞ2=0.37), height (Ƞ2= 0.30), sitting height (Ƞ2=0.30), and performance on the YYIRT1 (Ƞ2=0.08), CMJ (Ƞ2=0.14), and RSA (Ƞ2=0.13). No effect of maturity status on network-based centrality measures of young athletes was identified (P > 0.05). For the late maturity group, there was a correlation between the degree of centrality and physical growth indicators (rmean=0.88). For players with maturation “on time”, physical growth indicators relate to the degree of prestige (rmean=0.36). It is concluded that body size and bone age impact how late and on-time maturity groups interact within the match.