Youth soccer players, 11-14 years: maturity, size, function, skill and goal orientation.
BACKGROUND
Participants in many youth sports are commonly combined into age groups spanning 2 years.


OBJECTIVE
The study compared variation in size, function, sport-specific skill and goal orientation associated with differences in biological maturity status of youth soccer players within two competitive age groups.


METHODS
The sample included 159 male soccer players in two competitive age groups, 11-12 years (n=87) and 13-14 years (n=72). Weight, height, sitting height and four skinfolds, four functional capacities, four soccer skills and goal orientation were measured. Skeletal maturity was assessed using the Fels method. Each player was classified as late, on time or early maturing based on the difference between skeletal and chronological ages. ANOVA was used to compare characteristics of players across maturity groups.


RESULTS
Late, on time and early maturing boys are represented among 11-12-year-olds, but late maturing boys are under-represented among 13-14-year-olds. Players in each age group advanced in maturity are taller and heavier than those on time and late in skeletal maturity, but players of contrasting maturity status do not differ, with few exceptions, in functional capacities, soccer-specific skills and goal orientation.


CONCLUSIONS
Variation in body size associated with maturity status in youth soccer players is similar to that for adolescent males in general, but soccer players who vary in maturity status do not differ in functional capacities, soccer-specific skills and goal orientation.
Figueiredo
António J
AJ
Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Portugal. afigueiredo@fcdef.uc.pt
Gonçalves
Carlos E
CE
Coelho E Silva
Manuel J
MJ
Malina
Robert M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology*; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D001076:Aptitude / Q000502:physiology; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*