Running Performance and Hormonal, Maturity and Physical Variables in Starting and Non-Starting Elite U14 Soccer Players During a Congested Match Schedule

Author(s)

Zanetti, Vinicius ^{[1, 2]} ; Aoki, Marcelo Saldanha ^[3] ; Bradley, Paul ^[4] ; Carling, Christopher ^[5] ; Marino, Thomas Kisil ^[1] ; Moreira, Alexandre ^[1]

Affiliation

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

^[2] Red Bull Brazil, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Arts Sci & Humanities, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Liverpool John Moores Univ, Res Inst Sport & Exercise Sci, Liverpool, Merseyside - England

^[5] French Football Federat, Ctr Elite Performance, F-75015 Paris - France

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Human Kinetics; v. 80, n. 1, p. 287-295, OCT 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This study examined changes in match running performance (MRP) in Under-14 soccer players (13.5 +/- 0.7 yrs) during a congested match schedule (CMS) (4 matches played within a 5-day period). It also examined the difference in salivary testosterone (sT) concentration, somatic maturation, jumping tests, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) between the players selected to play (SLG; group who participated in all matches) and players non-selected to play (NSG). A significant difference was observed for the frequency of decelerations (DEC) across matches (match 4 vs. matches 1, 2 and 3; p = 0.05; partial eta(2) = 0.20). No difference between matches was observed for total running distance (TRD), high-speed running distance (HSRD), and frequency of accelerations (ACC) (p > 0.05). A wide range for within-player coefficient of variation (CV) values was observed for all MRP variables (range: 10.5 = TRD to 30.6 = HSRD). No difference between SLG and NSG for any of the assessed variables was observed (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that DEC was the most pertinent variable for monitoring changes in MRP during the CMS. In addition, at an elite youth soccer level, the biological maturity and fitness might not influence selection to play. (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
• FAPESP's process: 13/24193-2 - The influence of internal individual constraints on the performance of young soccer players
• Grantee: Alexandre Moreira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants