title: Age-related differences in acceleration, maximum running speed, and repeated-sprint performance in young soccer players.
abstract: We investigated age-related differences in the relationships among acceleration, maximum running speed, and repeated-sprint performance in 61 highly trained young male soccer players (Under 14, n = 14; Under 16, n = 22; Under 18, n = 25). We also examined the possible influence of anthropometry (stature, body mass, fat-free mass) and biological maturation (age at peak height velocity) on performance in those three sprint-running qualities. Players were tested for 10-m sprint (acceleration), flying 20-m sprint (maximum running speed), and 10 × 30-m sprint (repeated-sprint performance) times. Correlations between acceleration, maximum running speed, and repeated-sprint performance were positive and large to almost perfect (r = 0.55-0.96), irrespective of age group. There were age-based differences both in absolute performance in the three sprint-running qualities (Under 18 > Under 16 > Under 14; P < 0.001) and when body mass and fat-free mass were statistically controlled (P < 0.05). In contrast, all between-group differences disappeared after adjustment for age at peak height velocity (P > 0.05). The large correlations among acceleration, maximum running speed, and repeated-sprint performance in all age groups, as well as the disappearance of between-group differences when adjusted for estimated biological maturity, suggest that these physical qualities in young highly trained soccer players might be considered as a general quality, which is likely to be related to qualitative adaptations that accompany maturation.
authors.affiliation: Sport Science Department, ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, Qatar. amendezvillanueva@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendez-Villanueva
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buchheit
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuitunen
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peltola
authors.forename: Pitre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourdon
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*