Soccer Player Characteristics in English Lower-League Development Programmes: The Relationships between Relative Age, Maturation, Anthropometry and Physical Fitness

PloS One
Ric LovellStephen Cobley

Abstract

The relative age effect (RAE) and its relationships with maturation, anthropometry, and physical performance characteristics were examined across a representative sample of English youth soccer development programmes. Birth dates of 1,212 players, chronologically age-grouped (i.e., U9's-U18's), representing 17 professional clubs (i.e., playing in Leagues 1 & 2) were obtained and categorised into relative age quartiles from the start of the selection year (Q1 = Sep-Nov; Q2 = Dec-Feb; Q3 = Mar-May; Q4 = Jun-Aug). Players were measured for somatic maturation and performed a battery of physical tests to determine aerobic fitness (Multi-Stage Fitness Test [MSFT]), Maximal Vertical Jump (MVJ), sprint (10 & 20m), and agility (T-Test) performance capabilities. Odds ratio's (OR) revealed Q1 players were 5.3 times (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 4.08-6.83) more likely to be selected than Q4's, with a particularly strong RAE bias observed in U9 (OR: 5.56) and U13-U16 squads (OR: 5.45-6.13). Multivariate statistical models identified few between quartile differences in anthropometric and fitness characteristics, and confirmed chronological age-group and estimated age at peak height velocity (APHV) as covariates. Assessment of practical sig...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1988·Journal of Sports Sciences·L A LégerJ Lambert
Aug 1, 1994·Journal of Sports Sciences·S BerthoinF Vandendorpe
Aug 28, 2001·Journal of Sports Sciences·C Simmons, G C Paull
Sep 5, 2001·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Werner F. HelsenJan Van Winckel
Sep 28, 2004·Perceptual and Motor Skills·Stephen A ButterfieldTheodore Coladarci
Oct 1, 2005·Journal of Sports Sciences·Werner F HelsenA Mark Williams
Oct 1, 2005·Journal of Sports Sciences·Roel VaeyensRobert M Malina
Jan 17, 2007·British Journal of Sports Medicine·Robert M MalinaSean P Cumming
Nov 13, 2008·Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports·C CarlingA M Williams
Dec 19, 2008·Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise·William G HopkinsJuri Hanin
Aug 29, 2009·Journal of Sports Sciences·Iñigo MujikaRenaat Philippaerts
Feb 11, 2010·Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research·Goran SporisVlatko Vucetic
Aug 13, 2010·International Journal of Sports Medicine·M BuchheitP C Bourdon
Jan 13, 2011·Journal of Sports Sciences·Alberto Mendez-VillanuevaPitre Bourdon
Jan 19, 2011·Pediatric Exercise Science·Alberto Mendez-VillanuevaEsa Peltola
May 24, 2011·Journal of Sports Sciences·Claudia Augste, Martin Lames
Mar 8, 2012·Journal of Sports Sciences·Oliver FaudeTim Meyer
Jul 14, 2012·International Journal of Sports Medicine·D DeprezR Philippaerts
May 24, 2013·International Journal of Sports Medicine·D DeprezR Philippaerts
Sep 11, 2013·Journal of Sports Sciences·Robert M Malina, Sławomir M Kozieł
Feb 17, 2015·The Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research·Adrian D KnoetzeCelia Abolnik
Feb 17, 2015·The Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research·Leendert D SnymanRowina A Schultz
Jan 1, 1998·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Werner F HelsenJan Van Winckel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 5, 2018·Sports Medicine·Hugo SarmentoDuarte Araújo
Apr 19, 2018·Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports·C TowlsonR Lovell
Dec 28, 2018·European Journal of Sport Science·James H DugdaleAngus M Hunter
Feb 10, 2018·Pediatric Exercise Science·Jaak Jürimäe
Oct 26, 2016·Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research·Kyle S BeyerJay R Hoffman
Sep 27, 2016·Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research·Robert McCunnNeil V Gibson
Sep 11, 2018·Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research·Stacey EmmondsBen Jones
Jun 19, 2018·Sports·Alba Camacho-CardenosaJavier Brazo-Sayavera
Oct 28, 2019·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Eduard Nikolayevich BezuglovBeat Knechtle
Nov 30, 2019·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Francesco CampaStefania Toselli
Jul 16, 2020·Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports·Kylie MouldsStephen Cobley
Jan 11, 2017·Sports·Manuel Jacob Sierra-DíazJaime Serra-Olivares
Dec 2, 2018·Frontiers in Physiology·Pantelis Theodoros NikolaidisBeat Knechtle
Jul 6, 2019·Frontiers in Psychology·Paolo Riccardo BrustioGennaro Boccia
Sep 25, 2018·Journal of Sports Sciences·António J FigueiredoRobert M Malina
Jul 12, 2019·Frontiers in Psychology·Corrado LupoPaolo Riccardo Brustio
Jan 26, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Stefania ToselliFrancesco Campa
Mar 23, 2019·Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport·Leonidas PetridisTamás Szabó
Oct 1, 2020·International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance·Mark R NoonNeil D Clarke
Jan 14, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Alan M NevillUrs Granacher
Feb 16, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·James H DugdaleViswanath B Unnithan
Dec 22, 2020·Frontiers in Sports and Active Living·Lisa Steidl-MüllerChristian Raschner
Nov 12, 2020·Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport·Shaun AbbottStephen Cobley
Feb 20, 2021·Frontiers in Sports and Active Living·Carlos Eduardo Gonçalves, Humberto Moreira Carvalho
Mar 23, 2021·Frontiers in Sports and Active Living·Werner F HelsenChris Towlson
Apr 27, 2021·Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research·Jonathan M KollarsKyle S Beyer
Jul 3, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Hugo FolgadoBruno Gonçalves
Feb 16, 2021·The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness·Mohamed TounsiYassine Trabelsi

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.