{"title":"Are coordinative abilities impaired during adolescence in academy soccer?","authors":"Ryan J Hemmings, Sean J Maloney","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2025.2502897","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The current study sought to compare single leg (SL) landing and cutting mechanics within a cohort of youth footballers. A secondary aim was to examine how task complexity modulates the relationship between maturation and performance. Thirty-nine soccer players from an English football academy were categorised as pre-, circa- and post-peak height velocity (PHV). As part of routine club testing, players performed 1) bilateral and SL jumps (countermovement jump (CMJ) and 10/5 rebound jump tests), 2) speed (30-m sprint), and 3) change of direction (COD; 505 test and 45° cut) assessments. Landing (LESS score) and cutting mechanics (CMAS score) were determined during SL CMJ and 45° cuts, respectively. Differences in landing mechanics were not observed between groups. However, large effect sizes indicated that CMAS scores were lower in the post-PHV group versus pre- and circa-PHV groups, indicative of a favourable cutting technique. The circa-PHV group outperformed the pre-PHV group in the 'simpler' bilateral CMJ and linear sprint assessments, but not in the SL CMJ, 10/5 or COD assessments. The observed variability between participants in the circa-PHV period could be interpreted by changes in coordinative abilities. It is possible that athletes may require closer monitoring and possible training modification during this phase.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1452-1461"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Sports Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2502897","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/5/8 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"SPORT SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The current study sought to compare single leg (SL) landing and cutting mechanics within a cohort of youth footballers. A secondary aim was to examine how task complexity modulates the relationship between maturation and performance. Thirty-nine soccer players from an English football academy were categorised as pre-, circa- and post-peak height velocity (PHV). As part of routine club testing, players performed 1) bilateral and SL jumps (countermovement jump (CMJ) and 10/5 rebound jump tests), 2) speed (30-m sprint), and 3) change of direction (COD; 505 test and 45° cut) assessments. Landing (LESS score) and cutting mechanics (CMAS score) were determined during SL CMJ and 45° cuts, respectively. Differences in landing mechanics were not observed between groups. However, large effect sizes indicated that CMAS scores were lower in the post-PHV group versus pre- and circa-PHV groups, indicative of a favourable cutting technique. The circa-PHV group outperformed the pre-PHV group in the 'simpler' bilateral CMJ and linear sprint assessments, but not in the SL CMJ, 10/5 or COD assessments. The observed variability between participants in the circa-PHV period could be interpreted by changes in coordinative abilities. It is possible that athletes may require closer monitoring and possible training modification during this phase.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Sports Sciences has an international reputation for publishing articles of a high standard and is both Medline and Clarivate Analytics-listed. It publishes research on various aspects of the sports and exercise sciences, including anatomy, biochemistry, biomechanics, performance analysis, physiology, psychology, sports medicine and health, as well as coaching and talent identification, kinanthropometry and other interdisciplinary perspectives.
The emphasis of the Journal is on the human sciences, broadly defined and applied to sport and exercise. Besides experimental work in human responses to exercise, the subjects covered will include human responses to technologies such as the design of sports equipment and playing facilities, research in training, selection, performance prediction or modification, and stress reduction or manifestation. Manuscripts considered for publication include those dealing with original investigations of exercise, validation of technological innovations in sport or comprehensive reviews of topics relevant to the scientific study of sport.