The effects of PHV on physical performance on young soccer players

Introduction. In youth soccer academy categories are organized into annual age groups in order to provide similar competition level and age specific training program (Deprez et al, 2012). Several studies (Figueiredo et al, 2009) have shown better performance in strength, power, speed and endurance in relation to a faster biological maturity in the same age group. Talent identification is often based on physical capacities and so there is the risk that players who are physically less mature may be deselected but not on the basis of their adult potential. No studies evaluated a possible correlation between age of peak height velocity (APHV) and physical capacities. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between APHV and physical capacities in young soccer players. Methods. 158 young soccer players (8-16 years old) were recruited in this study. Players had their APHV indirectly estimated by the leg length, height and weight using equation from Mirwald et al (2002): Maturity off set = –9.236 + 0.0002708 × (leg length × sitting height) – 0.001663 × (decimal age × leg length) + 0.007216 × (decimal age × sitting height) + 0.02292 × (weight/height ratio). Counter movement jump (CMJ), agility (Illinois test modified for young players), linear sprint performance (5, 10, 20 m), balance (Y balance test, YBT) and flexibility (Sit and reach test, S&R) were evaluated to determine the players’ physical capacities. Relationships between APHV and physical variables were evaluated using Pearson’s product-moment correlation. The magnitudes of the correlations were considered as trivial (<0.1), small (0.1-0.3), moderate (0.3-0.5), large (0.5-0.7), very large (0.7-0.9), nearly perfect (>0.9) and perfect (1.0) in accordance with Hopkins et al (2009). Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results. All physical variables were significantly correlated with APHV. Very large magnitude correlations were observed between APHV and linear sprint performance on 5, 10 and 20 meters (P<0.001, r=-0.71; P<0.001, r=-0.82; P<0.001, r=-0.86, respectively), large magnitude correlations were observed between APHV and agility test (P<0.001, r=-0.56), S&R (P<0.001, r=0.55) and CMJ (P<0.001, r=0.52), moderate magnitude correlation was found between APHV and YBT (P<0.001, r=0.38). Conclusions. Our results indicated correlations between APHV and physical performance in young soccer players and so the physical capacities should be evaluates in relation to individual biological maturation for talent identification and in order to program appropriate training in groups with a great variability of APHV. References. Deprez D, Vaeyens R, Coutts AJ, Lenoir M, Philippaerts R. Int J Sports Med, 2012;33(12):987-93. Figueiredo A J, Gonçalves C E, Coelho e Silva M J, Malina R M. Ann Hum Biol, 2009;36:60-73. Mirwald R L, Baxter-Jones AD G, Bailey D A, Beunen G P. Med Sci Sport Exerc, 2002;34:689-694 Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM, Hanin J. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2009;41:3-13.