Performance Testing in Young Soccer Players

University of Thessaly

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Physical Performance

Treatments: Other: Performance testing

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04456374

YOUTH SOCCER STUDY-UTH-2020

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to investigate physiological characteristics, body composition and performance indicators among youth soccer players of four age categories (U-12, U-14, U-16, and U-18). Participants will undergo assessment of their body weight, body height and percent of body fat as well as performance testing including flexibility, strength, vertical jump, speed, repeated sprint ability, agility, dribbling and endurance.

Full description

This study aims at investigating anthropometric, body composition and performance indicators among male youth soccer players. The study will be conducted prior to the preparation period. Initially, participants and their parents (for those under 18 years) will be informed about the benefits, risks and discomforts associated with the study and will provide a written consent. Participants will be instructed to refrain from strenuous exercise for at least 48 hours prior to testing and they will be also asked to consume their normal diet. Prior to testing all participants will be familiarized with testing procedures and specific test. Body weight will be measured on a seca beam balance. Participants' height will be measured by using a fixed stadiometer and the percent body fat will be calculated with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Flexibility will be assessed by using the sit and reach test and the lower body explosive strength will be determined through vertical jump testing (squat jump and counter movement jump without arm swing). Knee flexor and extensor strength will be assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer. Sprint performance will be assessed from a standing start over by infrared photocells with participants running 10m and 30m as fast as they can. The repeated sprint ability will be tested by using linear sprint test including 5 maximum sprints of 30 meters with a 25-second recovery period in-between. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) will be determined by open-circuit spirometry via breath-by-breath analysis during a graded exercise test to exhaustion on a treadmill. Furthermore, participants will be evaluated in agility by using the short dribbling test and the ability to recover after repeated intense exercise through the YO-YO Intermittent Recovery test 1 (only for u-16 and U-18 groups).

Enrollment: 120 estimated patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 11 to 18 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged between 11 and 12 years
• Active soccer players participating in regular soccer practice and competition
• Training age ≥ 3 years
• Free of chronic diseases
• Free of musculoskeletal injury

Exclusion criteria

• Musculoskeletal injury
• Chronic disease
• Training age ≤ 2 years

Trial design

120 participants in 4 patient groups

Under-12 (U12) players

Treatment:

Other: Performance testing

Under-14 (U14) players

Treatment:

Other: Performance testing

Under-16 (U16) players

Treatment:

Other: Performance testing

Under-18 (U18) players

Treatment:

Other: Performance testing