Match Running Performance and Fitness in Youth Soccer

TLDR

The study examined how age, playing position, and physical capacity influence the activity profiles of highly trained youth soccer players. GPS time‑motion analysis of 77 U13–U18 players over 42 club matches measured total distance and very high‑intensity activity, while field tests evaluated peak speed and other physical capacities. Match running performance increased with age and varied by position—midfielders covered the most distance, centre‑backs the least, and very high‑intensity activity was highest for wingers and strikers; correlations with physical capacity were weak except for strong links in second strikers and strikers.

Abstract

The activity profiles of highly trained young soccer players were examined in relation to age, playing position and physical capacity. Time-motion analyses (global positioning system) were performed on 77 (U13–U18; fullbacks [FB], centre-backs [CB], midfielders [MD], wide midfielders [W], second strikers [2ndS] and strikers [S]) during 42 international club games. Total distance covered (TD) and very high-intensity activities (VHIA; >16.1 km·h−1) were computed during 186 entire player-matches. Physical capacity was assessed via field test measures (e. g., peak running speed during an incremental field test, VVam-eval). Match running performance showed an increasing trend with age (P<0.001, partial eta-squared (η2): 0.20–0.45). When adjusted for age and individual playing time, match running performance was position-dependent (P<0.001, η2: 0.13–0.40). MD covered the greater TD; CB the lowest (P<0.05). Distance for VHIA was lower for CB compared with all other positions (P<0.05); W and S displayed the highest VHIA (P<0.05). Relationships between match running performance and physical capacities were position-dependent, with poor or non-significant correlations within FB, CB, MD and W (e. g., VHIA vs. VVam-eval: r=0.06 in FB) but large associations within 2ndS and S positions (e. g., VHIA vs. VVam-eval: r=0.70 in 2ndS). In highly trained young soccer players, the importance of fitness level as a determinant of match running performance should be regarded as a function of playing position.