title: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Coimbra, Portugal. mjcesilva@fcdef.uc.pt
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Coelho-E-Silva
authors.forename: Vasco
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: Humberto M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valente-Dos-Santos
authors.forename: António J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Vanildo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaeyens
authors.forename: Renaat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Philippaerts
authors.forename: Marije T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Elferink-Gemser
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Malina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001827:Body Height; D015444:Exercise; D005221:Fatigue; D018737:Hand Strength; D006688:Hockey; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular