Body size, maturation and motor performance in young soccer players: relationship to technical actions in small-sided games

• Main Authors: Julio Cesar da Costa (Author), Paulo Henrique Borges (Author), Luiz Fernando Ramos-Silva (Author), Vinicius Muller Reis Weber (Author), Alexandre Moreira (Author), Enio Ricardo Vaz Ronque (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Termedia Publishing House, 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0860-021X; 2083-1862; 10.5114/biolsport.2023.110749
• Keywords: athletic performance; soccer; youth; growth; maturity; Sports medicine; RC1200-1245; Biology (General); QH301-705.5
• Source: Biology of Sport, Vol 40, Iss 1, Pp 51-61 (2022)

The objective of this study was to investigate the relative contributions of body size, skeletal age, and motor performance variables with technical actions through an ecological model during small-sided soccer games, and the interaction of biological maturation with technical and motor performance in young players. In this cross-sectional study, eighty-two young players (14.4 ±1.1 years), belonging to state-level soccer teams and divided by category (U-13 and U-15), were included. Players having an injury in the evaluation period were not included in the study. Measurements of body size, skeletal age (SA), motor tests, and technical actions in small-sided games (SSG) were performed (3×3 plus goalkeeper) in two periods (halves) of four minutes. Differences between age groups were found for SA (ES = -2.36), chronological age (ES = -3.89), body mass (ES = -2.09), height (ES = -1.90), and fat-free mass (ES = -2.09). Positive associations were found between body size (R = 0.43 to R = 0.48) and manipulation (R = 0.50 to R = 0.52) indicators and numbers of technical actions (CB and SS), except for stature with LB (R = -0.42) in the U-13 age group. In the U-15 category, skeletal age (R = -0.29 to R = -0.30) and body mass (R = -0.28 to R = -0.29) were negatively associated with the number of technical actions (RB, NB, LB, and OB) (P > 0.05) and positively with the balance with LB (R = 0.26). In conclusion, body size, SA, and motor performance influenced technical actions in SSG differentially in each category. U-13 heavier players and those with a better motor performance presented higher involvement due to the higher.