Motion analysis of match-play in elite U12 to U16 age-group soccer players

作者：Harley Jamie A^*; Barnes Christopher A; Portas Matthew; Lovell Ric; Barrett Stephen; Paul Darren; Weston Matthew

来源：Journal of Sports Sciences, 2010, 28(13): 1391-1397.

DOI：10.1080/02640414.2010.510142

• Time-motion analysis
• elite youth soccer
• global positioning system
• GPS
• maturation

The aim of this study was to quantify the motion demands of match-play in elite U12 to U16 age-group soccer players. Altogether, 112 players from two professional soccer clubs at five age-group levels (U12-U16) were monitored during competitive matches (n=14) using a 5Hz non-differential global positioning system (NdGPS). Velocity thresholds were normalized for each age-group using the mean squad times for a flying 10m sprint test as a reference point. Match performance was reported as total distance, high-intensity distance, very high-intensity distance, and sprint distance. Data were reported both in absolute (m) and relative (m center dot min-1) terms due to a rolling substitute policy. The U15 (1.35 +/- 0.09s) and U16 (1.31 +/- 0.06s) players were significantly quicker than the U12 (1.58 +/- 0.10s), U13 (1.52 +/- 0.07s), and U14 (1.51 +/- 0.08s) players in the flying 10m sprint test (P0.001). The U16 age-group covered significantly more absolute total distance (U16 U12, U13, U14), high-intensity distance (U16 U12, U13, U14, U15), very high-intensity distance (U16 U12, U13), and sprint distance (U16 U12, U13) than their younger counterparts (P0.05). When the data are considered relative to match exposure, few differences are apparent. Training prescription for youth soccer players should consider the specific demands of competitive match-play in each age-group.