Match Running Performance and Fitness in Youth Soccer

Abstract

The activity profiles of highly trained young soccer players were examined in relation to age, playing position and physical capacity. Time-motion analyses (global positioning system) were performed on 77 (U13–U18; fullbacks [FB], centre-backs [CB], midfielders [MD], wide midfielders [W], second strikers [2^ndS] and strikers [S]) during 42 international club games. Total distance covered (TD) and very high-intensity activities (VHIA; >16.1 km·h⁻¹) were computed during 186 entire player-matches. Physical capacity was assessed via field test measures (e. g., peak running speed during an incremental field test, VVam-eval). Match running performance showed an increasing trend with age (P<0.001, partial eta-squared (η²): 0.20–0.45). When adjusted for age and individual playing time, match running performance was position-dependent (P<0.001, η²: 0.13–0.40). MD covered the greater TD; CB the lowest (P<0.05). Distance for VHIA was lower for CB compared with all other positions (P<0.05); W and S displayed the highest VHIA (P<0.05). Relationships between match running performance and physical capacities were position-dependent, with poor or non-significant correlations within FB, CB, MD and W (e. g., VHIA vs. VVam-eval: r=0.06 in FB) but large associations within 2^ndS and S positions (e. g., VHIA vs. VVam-eval: r=0.70 in 2^ndS). In highly trained young soccer players, the importance of fitness level as a determinant of match running performance should be regarded as a function of playing position.

Key words

football - high-intensity running - field tests - adolescents - global positioning system

References

• 1 Abt G, Lovell R. The use of individualized speed and intensity thresholds for determining the distance run at high-intensity in professional soccer.  J Sports Sci. 2009;  27 893-898
• 2 Bangsbo J, Iaia FM, Krustrup P. The Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test : a useful tool for evaluation of physical performance in intermittent sports.  Sports Med. 2008;  38 37-51
• 3 Baquet G, van Praagh E, Berthoin S. Endurance training and aerobic fitness in young people.  Sports Med. 2003;  33 1127-1143
• 4 Barbero-Alvarez JC, Coutts A, Granda J, Barbero-Alvarez V, Castagna C. The validity and reliability of a global positioning satellite system device to assess speed and repeated sprint ability (RSA) in athletes.  J Sci Med Sport. 2010;  13 232-235
• 5 Bradley PS, Sheldon W, Wooster B, Olsen P, Boanas P, Krustrup P. High-intensity running in English FA Premier League soccer matches.  J Sports Sci. 2009;  27 159-168
• 6 Buchheit M, Delhomel G, Ahmaidi S. Time-motion analysis of elite young French soccer players.  Coaching Sport Sci. 2008;  3 21
• 7 Buchheit M, Mendez-Villanueva A, Delhomel G, Brughelli M, Ahmaidi S. Improving repeated sprint ability in young elite soccer players: repeated sprints vs. explosive strength training.  J Strength Cond Res. 2010 Mar 10;  [Epub ahead of print]
• 8 Buchheit M, Mendez-villanueva A, Simpson BM, Bourdon PC. Repeated-sprint sequences during youth soccer matches.  Int J Sports Med. 2010;  31 709-716 DOI 10.1055/s-0030-1261897
• 9 Castagna C, D’Ottavio S, Abt G. Activity profile of young soccer players during actual match play.  J Strength Cond Res. 2003;  17 775-780
• 10 Castagna C, Impellizzeri FM, Cecchini E, Rampinini E, Alvarez J. Effects of intermittent-endurance fitness on match performance in young male soccer players.  J Strength Cond Res. 2009;  23 1954-1959
• 11 Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum; 1988: 599
• 12 Coutts AJ, Duffield R. Validity and reliability of GPS devices for measuring movement demands of team sports.  J Sci Med Sport. 2010;  13 133-135
• 13 Di Salvo V, Baron R, Tschan H, Calderon Montero FJ, Bachl N, Pigozzi F. Performance characteristics according to playing position in elite soccer.  Int J Sports Med. 2007;  28 222-227
• 14 Di Salvo V, Gregson W, Atkinson G, Tordoff P, Drust B. Analysis of high intensity activity in Premier League soccer.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 205-212
• 15 Gil SM, Gil J, Ruiz F, Irazusta A, Irazusta J. Physiological and anthropometric characteristics of young soccer players according to their playing position: relevance for the selection process.  J Strength Cond Res. 2007;  21 438-445
• 16 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
• 17 Helgerud J, Engen LC, Wisloff U, Hoff J. Aerobic endurance training improves soccer performance.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 1925-1931
• 18 Hoff J. Training and testing physical capacities for elite soccer players.  J Sports Sci. 2005;  23 573-582
• 19 Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM, Hanin J. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;  41 3-13
• 20 Impellizzeri FM, Rampinini E, Castagna C, Bishop D, Ferrari Bravo D, Tibaudi A, Wisloff U. Validity of a repeated-sprint test for football.  Int J Sports Med. 2008;  29 899-905
• 21 Krustrup P, Bangsbo J. Physiological demands of top-class soccer refereeing in relation to physical capacity: effect of intense intermittent exercise training.  J Sports Sci. 2001;  19 881-891
• 22 Krustrup P, Mohr M, Amstrup T, Rysgaard T, Johansen J, Steensberg A, Pedersen PK, Bangsbo J. The yo-yo intermittent recovery test: physiological response, reliability, and validity.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;  35 697-705
• 23 Krustrup P, Mohr M, Ellingsgaard H, Bangsbo J. Physical demands during an elite female soccer game: importance of training status.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005;  37 1242-1248
• 24 Leger LA, Boucher R. An indirect continuous running multistage field test: the Universite de Montreal track test.  Can J Appl Sport Sci. 1980;  5 77-84
• 25 Malina RM, Bouchard C, Bar-Or O. Growth, maturation and physical activity. Second Edition. Champaign IL: Human Kinetics; 2004
• 26 Marfell-Jones MJ, Olds T, Stewart AD, Carter L. International standards for anthropometric assessment. In: International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) Potchefstroom, South Africa; 2006
• 27 Mendez-Villanueva A, Buchheit M, Kuitunen S, Poon TK, Simpson B, Peltola E. Is the relationship between sprinting and maximal aerobic speeds in young soccer players affected by maturation?.  Ped Exerc Sci. 2010;  In press
• 28 Mirwald RL, Baxter-Jones AD, Bailey DA, Beunen GP. An assessment of maturity from anthropometric measurements.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;  34 689-694
• 29 Mujika I, Santisteban J, Impellizzeri FM, Castagna C. Fitness determinants of success in men's and women's football.  J Sports Sci. 2009;  27 107-114
• 30 Papaiakovou G, Giannakos A, Michailidis C, Patikas D, Bassa E, Kalopisis V, Anthrakidis N, Kotzamanidis C. The effect of chronological age and gender on the development of sprint performance during childhood and puberty.  J Strength Cond Res. 2009;  23 2568-2573
• 31 Petersen C, Pyne D, Portus M, Dawson B. Validity and reliability of GPS units to monitor cricket-specific movement patterns.  Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2009;  4 381-393
• 32 Philippaerts RM, Vaeyens R, Janssens M, Van Renterghem B, Matthys D, Craen R, Bourgois J, Vrijens J, Beunen G, Malina RM. The relationship between peak height velocity and physical performance in youth soccer players.  J Sports Sci. 2006;  24 221-230
• 33 Pyne DB, Saunders PU, Montgomery PG, Hewitt AJ, Sheehan K. Relationships between repeated sprint testing, speed, and endurance.  J Strength Cond Res. 2008;  22 1633-1637
• 34 Rampinini E, Bishop D, Marcora SM, Ferrari Bravo D, Sassi R, Impellizzeri FM. Validity of simple field tests as indicators of match-related physical performance in top-level professional soccer players.  Int J Sports Med. 2007;  28 228-235
• 35 Rampinini E, Coutts AJ, Castagna C, Sassi R, Impellizzeri FM. Variation in top level soccer match performance.  Int J Sports Med. 2007;  28 1018-1024
• 36 Rampinini E, Impellizzeri FM, Castagna C, Coutts AJ, Wisloff U. Technical performance during soccer matches of the Italian Serie A league: effect of fatigue and competitive level.  J Sci Med Sport. 2009;  12 227-233
• 37 Randers M, Mujika I, Hewitt A, Santisteban J, Bischoff R, Solano R, Zubillaga A, Peltola E, Krustrup P, Mohr M. Application of 4 different football match analysis systems: A comparative study.  J Sports Sci. 2010;  [published ahead of print]
• 38 Ratel S, Duche P, Williams CA. Muscle fatigue during high-intensity exercise in children.  Sports Med. 2006;  36 1031-1065
• 39 Reilly T, Bangsbo J, Franks A. Anthropometric and physiological predispositions for elite soccer.  J Sports Sci. 2000;  18 669-683
• 40 Stroyer J, Hansen L, Klausen K. Physiological profile and activity pattern of young soccer players during match play.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;  36 168-174
• 41 Taskin H. Evaluating sprinting ability, density of acceleration, and speed dribbling ability of professional soccer players with respect to their positions.  J Strength Cond Res. 2008;  22 1481-1486
• 42 Vaeyens R, Malina RM, Janssens M, Van Renterghem B, Bourgois J, Vrijens J, Philippaerts RM. A multidisciplinary selection model for youth soccer: the Ghent Youth Soccer Project.  Br J Sports Med. 2006;  40 928-934 discussion 934
• 43 Weston M, Castagna C, Helsen W, Impellizzeri F. Relationships among field-test measures and physical match performance in elite-standard soccer referees.  J Sports Sci. 2009;  27 1177-1184
• 44 Wisloff U, Helgerud J, Hoff J. Strength and endurance of elite soccer players.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 462-467

Correspondence