title: A retrospective study on anthropometrical, physical fitness, and motor coordination characteristics that influence dropout, contract status, and first-team playing time in high-level soccer players aged eight to eighteen years.
abstract: The goal of this article was twofold, and a 2-study approach was conducted. The first study aimed to expose the anthropometrical, physical performance, and motor coordination characteristics that influence dropout from a high-level soccer training program in players aged 8-16 years. The mixed-longitudinal sample included 388 Belgian youth soccer players who were assigned to either a "club group" or a "dropout group." In the second study, cross-sectional data of anthropometry, physical performance, and motor coordination were retrospectively explored to investigate which characteristics influence future contract status (contract vs. no contract group) and first-team playing time for 72 high-level youth soccer players (mean age = 16.2 years). Generally, club players outperformed their dropout peers for motor coordination, soccer-specific aerobic endurance, and speed. Anthropometry and estimated maturity status did not discriminate between club and dropout players. Contract players jumped further (p = 0.011) and had faster times for a 5-m sprint (p = 0.041) than no contract players. The following prediction equation explains 16.7% of the variance in future playing minutes in adolescent youth male soccer players: -2,869.3 + 14.6 × standing broad jump. Practitioners should include the evaluation of motor coordination, aerobic endurance, and speed performances to distinguish high-level soccer players further succeeding a talent development program and future dropout players, between 8 and 16 years. From the age of 16 years, measures of explosivity are supportive when selecting players into a future professional soccer career.
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dieter N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Deprez
authors.forename: Job
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fransen
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenoir
authors.forename: Renaat M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Philippaerts
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaeyens
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D032982:Contracts; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*