Introduction: In addition to aerobic endurance, speed and power are generally the deciding conditioning factors in successful soccer performance. Only limited information is available that is associated with professionally organized development of young soccer players (1,2,3). Methods: The speed and sprinting power (SP) was determined via a series of 5 x 30 m utilizing double-light system (Start: 1 m back from the first light and self-selected start time, with 1:30 min break between individual sprints). The jumping power was determined via standard squat jump (SJ) und counter movement jump (CMJ) using force plate (3 CMJ per test). All testing was conducted before the beginning of the soccer season on a track surface in the training center. The variables of interest were the best times measured during 0-5m (SP-5m) und 0-30m (SP-30m) as well as maximal jump height in SJ und CMJ. Results: The measured variables reveal that the power and speed of young soccer players were associated with age dependent differences [SP-5m: U16 (0.97±0.06s), U17 (0.95±0.04s), U19 (0.94±0.04s), U23 (0.93±0.05s); SP-30m: U16 (4.23±0.2s), U17 (4.13±0.1s), U19 (4.07±0.1s), U23 (4.03±0.1s); SJ: U16 (31.6±3.9cm), U17 (32.1±4.4cm), U19 (33.9±3.7cm), U23 (35.7±3.9cm); CMJ: U16 (33.0±4.0cm), U17 (33.7±3.9cm), U19 (36.3±3.9cm), U23 (37.8±3.6cm)]. Discussion: The results of our investigation suggest that young soccer players of our development talent team in soccer center showed continued and consistent improvement in selected physiological variables of speed and power that improves with advancing age. The major factors responsible for improvement appear to be longer attention span and physical development and maturity associated with aging.
© Copyright 2014 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Amsterdam, 2. - 5. July 2014. Veröffentlicht von VU University Amsterdam. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.