title: Influence of Age, Maturity, and Body Size on the Spatiotemporal Determinants of Maximal Sprint Speed in Boys.
abstract: Meyers, RW, Oliver, JL, Hughes, MG, Lloyd, RS, and Cronin, JB. Influence of age, maturity, and body size on the spatiotemporal determinants of maximal sprint speed in boys. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 1009-1016, 2017-The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of age, maturity, and body size on the spatiotemporal determinants of maximal sprint speed in boys. Three-hundred and seventy-five boys (age: 13.0 ± 1.3 years) completed a 30-m sprint test, during which maximal speed, step length, step frequency, contact time, and flight time were recorded using an optical measurement system. Body mass, height, leg length, and a maturity offset represented somatic variables. Step frequency accounted for the highest proportion of variance in speed (∼58%) in the pre-peak height velocity (pre-PHV) group, whereas step length explained the majority of the variance in speed (∼54%) in the post-PHV group. In the pre-PHV group, mass was negatively related to speed, step length, step frequency, and contact time; however, measures of stature had a positive influence on speed and step length yet a negative influence on step frequency. Speed and step length were also negatively influence by mass in the post-PHV group, whereas leg length continued to positively influence step length. The results highlighted that pre-PHV boys may be deemed step frequency reliant, whereas those post-PHV boys may be marginally step length reliant. Furthermore, the negative influence of body mass, both pre-PHV and post-PHV, suggests that training to optimize sprint performance in youth should include methods such as plyometric and strength training, where a high neuromuscular focus and the development force production relative to body weight are key foci.
authors.affiliation: 1Youth Physical Development Unit, Cardiff School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom; 2Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand; and 3School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: Jon L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Rhodri S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cronin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*