A multifactorial comparison of Australian youth soccer players' performance characteristics

Bennett, KJM; Novak, AR; Pluss, MA; Coutts, AJ; Fransen, J

A multifactorial comparison of Australian youth soccer players' performance characteristics

Bennett, KJM Novak, AR Pluss, MA Coutts, AJ Fransen, J

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Publisher:: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & COACHING, 2020, 15, (1), pp. 17-25
Issue Date:: 2020

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Bennett, KJM
dc.contributor.author	Novak, AR
dc.contributor.author	Pluss, MA
dc.contributor.author	Coutts, AJ
dc.contributor.author	Fransen, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3355-1848
dc.date.accessioned	2020-07-27T06:59:20Z
dc.date.available	2020-07-27T06:59:20Z
dc.date.issued	2020
dc.identifier.citation	INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & COACHING, 2020, 15, (1), pp. 17-25
dc.identifier.issn	1747-9541
dc.identifier.issn	2048-397X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/141873
dc.description.abstract	© The Author(s) 2019. The current study aimed to investigate the performance characteristics that discriminate Australian youth soccer players according to their academy status. A total of 165 youth soccer players participated in this study and were sub-divided into either an early adolescence (n = 92, age = 13.0 ± 0.6 years) or mid-adolescence (n = 73 age = 14.8 ± 0.6 years) group. Players completed multifactorial assessments of anthropometry, motor competence, physical fitness, decision-making and psychological traits. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Multivariate analysis of variance identified dynamic balancing ability (both age groups), object manipulation (mid-adolescence), lateral jumping ability (both age groups), linear speed over 5 m (both age groups), change of direction skill (mid-adolescence), intermittent aerobic endurance (mid-adolescence) and total response time on a decision-making assessment (early adolescence) to discriminate academy status. Interestingly, a binomial logistical regression showed that a 0.1 s decrease in sprint time (i.e. running faster) increased the odds of a player belonging to a tier one academy by 19% and 47% for early and mid-adolescent players, respectively. Overall, performance in the motor competence and physical fitness assessments were in favour of the tier one academy players. These findings are indicative of a potential selection bias in the Australian talent pool or a training effect whereby tier one academy programmes emphasise the development of physical attributes. However, future research is required to further substantiate this in a larger sample of youth soccer players from other playing regions within Australia.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & COACHING
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/1747954119893174
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & COACHING, 2020, 15, (1), pp. 17-25. Copyright © 2020 SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1747954119893174	en_US
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
dc.title	A multifactorial comparison of Australian youth soccer players' performance characteristics
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	15
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.date.updated	2020-07-27T06:59:16Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	15
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

© The Author(s) 2019. The current study aimed to investigate the performance characteristics that discriminate Australian youth soccer players according to their academy status. A total of 165 youth soccer players participated in this study and were sub-divided into either an early adolescence (n = 92, age = 13.0 ± 0.6 years) or mid-adolescence (n = 73 age = 14.8 ± 0.6 years) group. Players completed multifactorial assessments of anthropometry, motor competence, physical fitness, decision-making and psychological traits. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Multivariate analysis of variance identified dynamic balancing ability (both age groups), object manipulation (mid-adolescence), lateral jumping ability (both age groups), linear speed over 5 m (both age groups), change of direction skill (mid-adolescence), intermittent aerobic endurance (mid-adolescence) and total response time on a decision-making assessment (early adolescence) to discriminate academy status. Interestingly, a binomial logistical regression showed that a 0.1 s decrease in sprint time (i.e. running faster) increased the odds of a player belonging to a tier one academy by 19% and 47% for early and mid-adolescent players, respectively. Overall, performance in the motor competence and physical fitness assessments were in favour of the tier one academy players. These findings are indicative of a potential selection bias in the Australian talent pool or a training effect whereby tier one academy programmes emphasise the development of physical attributes. However, future research is required to further substantiate this in a larger sample of youth soccer players from other playing regions within Australia.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/141873