Maturation somatic and physical fitness in young soccer players

Abstract

Objective

The study aimed to analyze the correlation between the distance to the Peak Height Velocity and physical fitness, and to compare the performance in acceleration, speed and agility tests of different players maturation levels.

Method

The study included 104 male players belonging to the youth teams of Fluminense Football Club. It used the method Mirwald (2002) to assess the distance to the PHV. Physical fitness was assessed with the acceleration (10 m), speed (30 m) and agility (Zig‐Zag test) tests. Descriptive statistics were used and the bivariate Spearman correlation and one way ANOVA using SPSS software (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for Windows, version 20.0. The significance level was p <0.05.

Results

It was observed a high and negative correlation between the distance to Peak Height Velocity and acceleration (rho = ‐0.660, p < 0.01), speed (rho = ‐0.767, p < 0.01) and the speed (rho = ‐0.703, p < 0.01). In the analysis by categories, there were no significant correlations between measures of maturation and physical fitness of soccer players in the sample.

Conclusion

Through this study, it is concluded that the stimuli induced the players must be individualized, and thus provide adequate training on the physical ability of the players.