Maturation Status on Soccer Performance Tests
Author: Matt Couch
Publish Date: March 15, 2020
The physical demands of soccer continue to increase for young players, especially those who participate in an elite soccer program. Clubs and coaches have started to implement sports performance testing to evaluate the ability of prospective players. Although there are several factors in identifying a player's ability, this article will focus on speed and power, and the effect of maturation status on those elements of physical performance.
Previous studies have shown speed and power of elite youth soccer players to be greater than non-elite youth soccer players, especially in 13-17 years old. The current study believes performance differences between elite and non-elite youth soccer players should account for maturation. Players can be classified a pre, mid, and post maturation. The study focused on testing acceleration, speed, vertical and horizontal power to assess and ultimately determine the best test to identify elite status at the three stages of maturation.
The tests performed include vertical and horizontal countermovement jump as well as 10 meter acceleration and 20 meter sprint. The participants in this study consisted of boys youth players a part of an English Premier League academy team and youth players that have no experience in an English Premier League academy. Physiological measurements were taken of the participants, as well as pubertal estimates. Participants were allowed 3 attempts at the different tests, with the best score recorded.
The significant findings made by the study, show elite soccer players outperformed non-elite soccer players in acceleration and speed in the pre, mid, and post maturation stage, but only outperformed vertical and horizontal countermovement jump at the mid and post maturation stage. The study suggests acceleration and sprint performance tests would be appropriate determinants of an elite soccer player across all maturation stages. However, countermovement jump would be used for the mid and post maturation stages. The study concludes by stating, “the physiological assessments used as part of a holistic approach to talent identification and selection in elite youth soccer need to be dynamic, and specific to maturation status”. The study continues by stating more research is needed on the pre maturation stage to determine physiological tests that can differentiate elite soccer players from not elite soccer players, perhaps coordination skills tests. The author suggests countermovement jump should be prioritized at the mid and post maturation stage, as it showed the greatest difference in results between the elite and non elite soccer players. At the pre maturation state acceleration and speed should be prioritized for in order to identify elite soccer player status.
Although this study evaluates different performance tests in the identification of elite soccer players, the test does not take into account the intangibles of a player. The study does not take into account a players coach ability, determination, work ethic, and other behaviors important to identifying players. Take this study and improve in the areas you need to improve but always ensure you are developing your intangible assets. Most coaches were once players, and they understand that you may not have all the physical abilities of an elite soccer player but a player that works hard and has a great attitude will always be welcomed on the team.
Resource: http://ljmu-test.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/7661/1/Murtagh_JSCR_Figs_2017.pdf