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Body Physique, Body Composition, Physical Performance, Technical and Tactical Skills, Psychological Development, and Club Characteristics of Young Male Portuguese Soccer Players: The INEX Study

Author

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  • Maryam Abarghoueinejad

    (Centre of Research, Education, Innovation, and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal)

  • Daniel Barreira

    (Centre of Research, Education, Innovation, and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal)

  • Cláudia Dias

    (Centre of Research, Education, Innovation, and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal)

  • Eduardo Guimarães

    (Centre of Research, Education, Innovation, and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal)

  • Adam D. G. Baxter-Jones

    (College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B2, Canada)

  • José Maia

    (Centre of Research, Education, Innovation, and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

Youth soccer performance is multifaceted, includes physical growth, biological maturation, and physical fitness, and is linked to the sporting environment to which the players are exposed. We aim to describe age-related associations in body physique, body composition, physical performance technical and tactical skills, psychological and club characteristics of male soccer players aged 12 to 14 years. A total of 157 male soccer players clustered into three age-cohorts (12, 13 and 14 years) were recruited from six soccer clubs. Anthropometric, body composition and body physique, biological maturation, physical performance, skill/game proficiency data, psychological characteristics, and clubs’ characteristics were collected. Group means were compared using analysis of variance and covariance. Fourteen years old players were significantly taller, heavier, leaner, faster, stronger, and technically more skilled than their younger peers ( p < 0.05). Differences in physical performance and technical skills ( p < 0.05) were found between age groups when adjusting for confounders of soccer training and biological maturation. No significant differences ( p > 0.05) between age groups were found in psychological domains. Our findings suggest that age, biological maturation, and training volume are key factors influencing young soccer players’ performance and development. Further, clubs’ conditions provide players with ample resources for their success in training and competition.

Suggested Citation

  • Maryam Abarghoueinejad & Daniel Barreira & Cláudia Dias & Eduardo Guimarães & Adam D. G. Baxter-Jones & José Maia, 2021. "Body Physique, Body Composition, Physical Performance, Technical and Tactical Skills, Psychological Development, and Club Characteristics of Young Male Portuguese Soccer Players: The INEX Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3560-:d:526407
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guilherme Machado & Sixto González-Víllora & Hugo Sarmento & Israel Teoldo, 2020. "Development of Tactical Decision-making Skills in Youth Soccer Players: Macro- and Microstructure of Soccer Developmental Activities as a Discriminant of Different Skill Levels," International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(6), pages 1072-1091, November.
    2. Daniel Leyhr & Augustin Kelava & Johannes Raabe & Oliver Höner, 2018. "Longitudinal motor performance development in early adolescence and its relationship to adult success: An 8-year prospective study of highly talented soccer players," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(5), pages 1-16, May.
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