Is the technical performance of young soccer players influenced by hormonal status, sexual maturity, anthropometric profile, and physical performance?

Author(s)

Moreira, Alexandre ^[1] ; Massa, Marcelo ^[2] ; Thiengo, Carlos R. ^[3] ; Rodrigues Lopes, Rafael Alan ^{[1, 4]} ; Lima, Marcelo R. ^[4] ; Vaeyens, Roel ^[5] ; Barbosa, Wesley P. ^[2] ; Aoki, Marcelo S. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Arts Sci & Humanities, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas, Fac Phys Educ, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[4] Sao Paulo Football Club, President Laudo Natel Athlete Dev Ctr, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Ghent, Ghent - Belgium

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOLOGY OF SPORT; v. 34, n. 4, p. 305-311, 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of hormonal status, anthropometric profile, sexual maturity level, and physical performance on the technical abilities of 40 young male soccer players during small-sided games (SSGs). Anthropometric profiling, saliva sampling, sexual maturity assessment (Tanner scale), and physical performance tests (Yo-Yo and vertical jumps) were conducted two weeks prior to the SSGs. Salivary testosterone was determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Technical performance was determined by the frequency of actions during SSGs. Principal component analyses identified four technical actions of importance: total number of passes, effectiveness, goal attempts, and total tackles. A multivariate canonical correlation analysis was then employed to verify the prediction of a multiple dependent variables set (composed of four technical actions) from an independent set of variables, composed of testosterone concentration, stage of pubic hair and genitalia development, vertical jumps and Yo-Yo performance. A moderate-to-large relationship between the technical performance set and the independent set was observed. The canonical correlation was 0.75 with a canonical R-2 of 0.45. The highest structure coefficient in the technical performance set was observed for tackles (0.77), while testosterone presented the highest structure coefficient (0.75) for the variables of the independent set. The current data suggest that the selected independent set of variables might be useful in predicting SSG performance in young soccer players. Coaches should be aware that physical development plays a key role in technical performance to avoid decision-making mistakes during the selection of young players. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/20309-3 - Effect of biological maturation on sport talent identification process
• Grantee: Marcelo Saldanha Aoki
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants