title: Relationships between strength, sprint, and jump performance in well-trained youth soccer players.
abstract: Research has demonstrated a clear relationship between absolute and relative strength and sprint and jump performance in adult athletes; however, this relationship in younger athletes has been less extensively studied. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the relationships between strength, sprint, and jump performances in well-trained youth soccer players. Thirty-four young male soccer players (17.2 ± 0.6 years; body mass, 72.62 ± 7.42 kg; height, 179.27 ± 6.58 cm) performed a predicted maximal squat test, 20-m sprints, squat jumps (SJs), and countermovement jumps (CMJs). Absolute strength showed the strongest correlations with 5-m sprint times (r = -0.596, p < 0.001, power = 0.99), SJ height (r = 0.762, p < 0.001, power = 1.00), and CMJ height (r = 0.760, p < 0.001, power = 1.00), whereas relative strength demonstrated the strongest correlation with 20-m sprint times (r = -0.672, p < 0.001, power = 0.99). The results of this study illustrate the importance of developing high levels of lower-body strength to enhance sprint and jump performance in youth soccer players, with stronger athletes demonstrating superior sprint and jump performances.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom; 2Manchester City Academy Football Club, Manchester, United Kingdom; 3Charlton Athletic Football Club, Charlton, United kingdom; and 4Southend United Football Club, Essex, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Comfort
authors.forename: Al
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clarkson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*