Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Assessing Maximal Sprinting Speed in Highly Trained Young Soccer Players

2012; Human Kinetics; Volume: 7; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1123/ijspp.7.1.76

1555-0273

Martin Buchheit, Ben Simpson, Esa Peltola, Alberto Méndez-Villanueva,

Cardiovascular and exercise physiology

The aim of the present study was to locate the fastest 10-m split time (Split best ) over a 40-m sprint in relation to age and maximal sprint speed in highly trained young soccer players. Analyses were performed on 967 independent player sprints collected in 223 highly trained young football players (Under 12 to Under 18). The maximal sprint speed was defined as the average running speed during Split best . The distribution of the distance associated with Split best was affected by age ( X 2 3 = 158.7, P < .001), with the older the players, the greater the proportion of 30-to-40-m Split best . There was, however, no between-group difference when data were adjusted for maximal sprint speed. Maximal sprint speed is the main determinant of the distance associated with Split best . Given the important disparity in Split best location within each age group, three (U12-U13) to two (U14-U18) 10-m intervals are still required to guarantee an accurate evaluation of maximal sprint speed in young players when using timing gates.