Biology of Sport最新文献

{"title":"Monitoring game load across quarters in professional basketball: positional differences and contextual effects.","authors":"Shaoliang Zhang, Ming Li, Xing Wang, Enrique Alonso-Pérez-Chao, Pierpaolo Sansone, Jordan L Fox","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.157997","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.157997","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to examine quarter-to-quarter variations in external and internal loads, the relationships between RPE and external loads, and the effects of contextual factors on external and internal loads in backcourt and frontcourt players. 16 professional male basketball players (8 backcourt, 8 frontcourt) from the Chinese National Basketball League were recruited. External load was quantified using Catapult S7 devices to record PlayerLoad^TM (PL) and Inertial Movement Analysis (IMA) metrics, while internal load was assessed via rating of perceived exertion (RPE). From the first to the fourth quarter, frontcourt players displayed significant reductions in change of direction to the right (Q1: 0.48 ± 0.29 vs. Q4: 0.33 ± 0.16; p < 0.05) and explosive efforts (Q1: 1.49 ± 0.40 vs. Q4: 1.04 ± 0.35; p < 0.01). In contrast, backcourt players reported higher RPE (Q1: 4.28 ± 1.04 vs. Q4: 5.13 ± 1.05; p < 0.05) and recorded higher PL (Q1: 103.10 ± 44.59 vs. Q4: 123.21 ± 57.66; p < 0.01) in the fourth quarter. Frontcourt players showed higher RPE, PL, and PL · min^-1, especially in the second quarter, but lower jump-related (IMA jump low, medium, total) and acceleration metrics than backcourt players. RPE correlated moderately to largely with PL and high-intensity jumps (r = 0.41-0.72, all p < 0.05). Backcourt players reported higher RPE in wins compared with losses (ES = 0.42; p < 0.05). These findings reveal notable positional differences in game load profiles, underscoring the need for contextspecific load management to optimize position-specific recovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"769-778"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217392/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex differences in hip and groin injury prevalence: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 3133 team-sport athletes.","authors":"Toni Bailén-García, Marcos Quintana-Cepedal, Omar de la Calle, María Medina-Sánchez, Irene Crespo, Hugo Olmedillas","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.158668","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.158668","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the prevalence of hip and groin injuries (HGIs) among male and female athletes. Systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic search for related studies published from inception to February 2025 was conducted using the following databases: Cochrane, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, SPORTDiscus, PEDro and Scopus. A total of nine clinical trials, cohort or case-control studies were included. Data recorded from each study included authors, year of publication, study design, number of participants, sport played, age, number of injured athletes, injury prevalence, and type of injury (time-loss (TL) and/or non-time-loss (NTL)). Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. The risk of bias (RoB) was evaluated with the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool and the certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. The pooled results of 3133 athletes (1955 males and 1178 females) showed no differences in HGIs between both sexes with an OR of 1.39 (95% CI: 0.99-1.96; PI: 0.48-3.99; p = 0.06). No differences were observed for TL (OR = 1.55) and NTL (OR = 0.97) injuries. Male football players showed higher odds of suffering groin problems (OR = 2.25). This systematic review and meta-analysis reveal a similar prevalence of HGIs in both males and females. The results highlight the importance of establishing screening measures for all athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"753-764"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13221697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gene expression profiling of whole blood samples following marathon running in non-elite athletes.","authors":"Pol Ezquerra-Condeminas, Laura Martin-Fernandez, Antonio Cardenas, Oriol Sibila, Nina Borràs, Francisco Vidal, Alexandre Perera-Lluna, José Manuel Soria","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.158303","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.158303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endurance exercise exerts profound physiological effects on non-elite athletes, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study investigated transcriptomic changes induced by running a marathon and their progression during recovery. Blood samples were collected from 60 non-elite athletes (42 men, 18 women) at three time points: baseline (START), immediately after the marathon (FINISH), and 24 hours post-race (24REST). Differential gene expression analyses, along with Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment, were performed for three comparisons: C1 (START vs FINISH), C2 (FINISH vs 24REST), and C3 (START vs 24REST). The analysis identified 9,874 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in C1, indicating widespread gene expression changes following the marathon. GO and KEGG analyses highlighted significant enrichments in biological processes such as immune function, oxidative stress response, and lipid metabolism. At 24REST, gene expression had not fully returned to baseline, with 279 DEGs observed in C3. These genes were predominantly associated with mitochondrial function and energy production pathways, suggesting differences in mitochondrial and energy associated gene expression compared with baseline. Clustering analyses identified two clusters of recovered genes and three clusters of differentially expressed genes at 24REST, reflecting distinct temporal expression trajectories. These findings underscore the substantial impact of endurance exercise on gene expression in non-elite athletes, providing a foundation for understanding transcriptomic regulation in non-elite athletes and may inform strategies to optimize recovery. Future research is necessary to explore the long-term physiological and health implications of these transcriptional changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"779-793"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217405/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morning priming exercises for explosive performance: time course effects of two-way ballistic and strength-based protocols.","authors":"Yiheng Zeng, Tao Wu, Junlei Lin, Wei Li, Paul B Gastin, Olivier Girard","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.158671","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.158671","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To examine the effects of low- and high-intensity two-way ballistic (TWB) priming exercise versus high-intensity traditional strength exercise (TSE) on explosive performance at 6 h and 24 h post-intervention. Twenty-eight well-trained male athletes completed four randomized morning sessions (08:00-11:00) in separate weeks: 30% 1RM TWB, 80% 1RM TWB, 80% 1RM TSE, and control. Each priming protocol comprised three sets of six repetitions with 4-min rest intervals. Explosive performance was assessed via countermovement jump (CMJ), five consecutive CMJs, and standing broad jump, measured pre-intervention, and at 6 h and 24 h post. After 6 h, all exercise conditions (excluding control) significantly improved CMJ height (30% 1RM TWB: 6.4 ± 5.0%, d = 1.31; 80% 1RM TWB: 7.4 ± 3.1%, d = 2.49; 80% 1RM TSE: 3.5 ± 4.2%, d = 0.83; all p < 0.01) and relative peak power (3.5 ± 1.8%, d = 1.87; 4.8 ± 1.8%, d = 2.83; 3.2 ± 2.1%, d = 1.53; all p < 0.01). Across conditions, average height across consecutive CMJs increased, with improvements of 6.7 ± 3.5% (d = 1.96), 7.6 ± 6.6% (d = 1.18), and 4.2 ± 2.7% (d = 1.53) for 30% 1RM TWB, 80% 1RM TWB, and 80% 1RM TSE, respectively (all p < 0.01). Similar patterns were observed for reactive strength index-modified (12.4 ± 12.1%, d = 0.95; 9.4 ± 11.7%, d = 0.79; 9.4 ± 14.1%, d = 0.71; all p < 0.01), and standing broad jump distance (1.9 ± 1.2%, d = 1.52; 2.4 ± 1.6%, d = 1.52; 1.1 ± 1.5%, d = 0.72; all p < 0.01). At 24 h, performance gains were largely diminished, with the 30% 1RM TWB condition returning to baseline (all p > 0.05). Both high-intensity protocols (TWB and TSE) maintained improvements, with the TWB protocol yielding the most consistent benefits, particularly in CMJ and CCMJ measures. Morning TWB priming at both low and high intensities enhances explosive performance within 6 h, making it a viable delayed potentiation strategy for sports with afternoon or evening competition. High-intensity TWB sustains benefits up to 24 h, indicating greater suitability for high-intensity or competitive settings requiring prolonged performance readiness.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"815-827"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217138/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of competitive level and playing position on the physical and technical demands of professional men's football.","authors":"Miguel Lampre-Ezquerra, José Luis Arjol-Serrano, Roberto López-Del Campo, Ricardo Resta, Elena Mainer-Pardos, Demetrio Lozano","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.156233","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.156233","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the differences in physical and technical performance between players in Spain's First and Second Division professional men's football leagues, with a specific focus on playing positions and phases of play (in and out of possession). Drawing on data from 1,608 official matches across the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, involving 44 teams, the research employed advanced tracking technologies (TRACAB and Mediacoach) and technical event analysis (OPTA) to provide a comprehensive assessment of physical demands and technical actions. In possession phases, First Division central midfielders (CM) and forwards (FW) covered significantly more distance at high speeds (p = 0.010 and 0.027; ES = -0.49) and during sprints (p = 0.041 and 0.025; ES = -0.45 and -0.59), whereas wide defenders (WD) demonstrated greater high-intensity efforts in both possession and defensive phases (p = 0.002-0.009; ES = -0.50 to -0.59). Conversely, central defenders (CD) and wide midfielders (WM) did not show significant differences in physical demands between divisions. Technically, FW in the First Division recorded higher values in total passes, forward passes, attacking zone passes, successful dribbles, and crosses, while WM showed significantly greater totals in passes, forward passes, and attacking zone passes compared to their counterparts in the Second Division. In contrast, Second Division players, particularly CD and WD, executed longer passes (p = 0.025 and 0.001; ES = 0.29 and 0.20), suggesting a more direct style of play. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that competitive level and playing position significantly influence the physical and technical demands of professional football. The findings suggest that technical proficiency, particularly in offensive play, complements position-specific physical demands in highintensity actions as a key differentiator between divisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"711-720"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217389/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The influence of contextual factors on the physical demands of soccer match-play.","authors":"Enrique Benéitez-Andrés, Javier Sánchez-Sánchez, Alejandro Rodríguez-Fernández, Mercedes Sánchez-Barba, Daniel Rojas-Valverde, Mario Sánchez","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.157995","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.157995","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This observational longitudinal study examined the impact of six contextual on the match demands of professional soccer players using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Data were collected from 17 male players across 37 official matches (September 2023-May 2024) of a Tier 3 Spanish team, utilizing 10 Hz GPS units. PCA, combined with hierarchical cluster analysis, effectively reduced the 17 initial external load metrics to eight representative variables, optimizing relevant information and minimizing redundancy inherent in performance monitoring systems. Six contextual factors (match outcome, location, player position, goal difference, halftime score evolution, and competitive block) were analyzed for their influence using ANOVA. Results indicated that player position was the most influential variable (p ≤ 0.001, large effect sizes), significantly affecting all external load metrics, with distinct profiles for forwards, midfielders, and defenders. Specifically, forwards excelled in high-intensity actions; midfielders recorded higher values in medium-intensity distances and decelerations, while defenders consistently exhibited the lowest overall physical demands. Match location significantly influenced high-intensity distance and decelerations (higher at home, small effect sizes). The competitive block showed a significant effect only on low-intensity distance, peaking during intermediate periods, suggesting that effective load management strategies mitigated fluctuations in high-intensity activity. Conversely, match outcome, goal difference, and score difference evolution had no significant effects on most physical demands. This study confirms player position as the predominant contextual factor and highlights the utility of PCA in refining load monitoring. Practical applications include individualized training regimens tailored to positional demands and optimized monitoring strategies for efficient performance analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"729-741"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217384/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Force vs. impulse: assessing the applicability of dynamic strength indices in individualized training recommendations.","authors":"Yuhang Liu, Chris Bishop, Lachlan P James, Changda Lu, Fanhao Meng, Xiaoyi Yuan","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.157994","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.157994","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this cross-sectional investigation, we aimed to compare impulse-derived (iDSI) and forcederived (fDSI) dynamic strength indices to determine their consistency in guiding individualized training recommendations. It also assessed the agreement between training prescriptions based on these indices and analyzed individualized neuromuscular profiles through case study comparisons. Twenty male skeleton and bobsled athletes performed countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) assessments in a counterbalanced order. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted to examine differences between fDSI and iDSI. Spearman correlation coefficients quantified intra-group relationships, and linear regression analysis evaluated the model fit between indices. Cohen's kappa (κ) was applied to assess agreement in training classifications derived from fDSI and iDSI. Both indices showed limitations in representing lower-limb neuromuscular function (Z = -3.72, p < 0.01, large effect). A moderate correlation was observed between iDSI and fDSI (rs = 0.47, p < 0.05), with moderate agreement in their training recommendations (κ = 0.52, 95% CI: [0.38, 0.66]). Case-study analyses revealed substantial inter-athlete variability in CMJ force-time characteristics, highlighting the need for individualized interpretation within performance profiling. Incorporating phase-specific, multi-metric evaluations of force-time variables may improve the precision of training decisions and better inform athletespecific programming.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"743-752"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217403/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is the positioning of defensive players an aspect to consider in soccer transition games?","authors":"Jose A Asian-Clemente, Bernardo Requena, Luis Suarez-Arrones, Piotr Żmijewski","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.156229","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.156229","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the influence of defensive player positioning on the external and internal loads experienced during small-sided transition games (TGs) and the subsequent effects on sprint and jump performance. Twenty male youth players (age 15.7 ± 0.2 years; height 175.3 ± 7.5 cm; mass 67.1 ± 6.8 kg) completed two 7-min bouts, with 2 minutes of passive recovery, of 2 vs. 2 TGs under three defensive configurations: defenders in front of attackers (TG_Front), behind attackers (TG_Behind), and parallel to attackers (TG_Parallel). During each TG, we recorded total distance covered (DC), distance covered in running (18.0-20.9 km · h^-1), high-intensity running (21.0-23.9 km · h^-1), and sprinting (> 24.0 km · h^-1), peak speed, mechanical load, and the number of accelerations and decelerations > 1.0 m · s^-2 and > 2.5 m · s^-2. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were also collected. Sprint (30 m) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests were administered immediately before and after each session. The results showed that TG_Parallel and TG_Behind elicited significantly greater DC, distances in running, high-intensity running, and sprinting zones, mechanical load, accelerations > 2.5 m · s^-2, and RPE compared to TG_Front (p < 0.05). Moreover, TG_Parallel produced higher DC in high-intensity running, sprinting, mechanical load, and accelerations > 2.5 m · s^-2 than TG_Behind (p < 0.05). No TG format induced significant changes in sprint or CMJ performance (pre- vs. post-test, p > 0.05). These findings demonstrate that positioning defenders behind or parallel to attackers increases both external and internal loads across running, high-intensity, and sprinting zones during TGs, without compromising subsequent sprint or jump performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"703-709"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217386/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparable blood pressure reductions after indoor and outdoor walking exercise.","authors":"Olga Papale, Emanuel Festino, Francesca Di Rocco, Carl Foster, Iris Prestanti, Sofia Serafini, Pascal Izzicupo, Cristina Cortis, Andrea Fusco","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.156232","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.156232","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although there is a trend toward outdoor activities, limited research has examined the effects of outdoor exercise on blood pressure. This study aimed to compare the Systolic (sBP) and Diastolic (dBP) Blood Pressure, Heart Rate (HR) response, Post-Exercise Hypotension (PEH) and Rate Pressure Product (RPP) following indoor and outdoor activities. Thirty-seven participants (18 females = age: 24.7 ± 0.7 years, BMI: 21.1 ± 2.1 kg/m², MET*week: 3779 ± 3037; 19 males = age: 24.9 ± 0.5 years, BMI: 24.1 ± 2.6 kg/m², MET*week: 3000 ± 730) completed an outdoor hike (H) (~3800 m) and an indoor maximal walking test (MWT). During both sessions, sBP, dBP and HR were measured 15-min before (PRE), immediately after (POST), 15-min (POST-15) and 30-min (POST-30) after the sessions. Mean differences and standard deviations of all variables, along with PEH and RPP, were determined. Repeated-measures mixed models evaluate the effects of indoor and outdoor sessions on hemodynamic variables. Paired t-tests compared PEH between settings. Regardless of sessions PRE measurements were higher (p < 0.0001) than POST-30 for sBP (H: 10.4 ± 2.1 mmHg; MWT: 12.3 ± 2.3 mmHg), dBP (H: 4.3 ± 1.9 mmHg; MWT: 4.5 ± 1.7 mmHg), HR (H: -5.4 ± 2.2 bpm; MWT: -7.8 ± 2.5 bpm) and RPP (H: 140.6 ± 296.6 mmHg*bpm; MWT: 38.6 ± 323.5 mmHg*bpm). No significant difference in PEH (0.9 ± 11.3 mmHg) was found between sessions. PEH occurred regardless of PRE values, confirming the positive effect of physical activity on reducing BP.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"721-728"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217391/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Growth, maturity status and performance of youth soccer players by playing status as adults.","authors":"Robert M Malina, Luís Horta, João P Duarte, Nuno Silva-Borges, Tomas Oliveira, Jorge M Celis-Moreno, Oscar M Tavares, Andre Seabra, Jan M Konarski, Manuel J Coelho-E-Silva","doi":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.156225","DOIUrl":"10.5114/biolsport.2026.156225","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To evaluate the growth, maturity and performance characteristics of select youth soccer players grouped by subsequent playing status as adults. Height, weight, skeletal and pubertal maturity status, and performances on jumping, speed and aerobic endurance tasks were measured in 1998-1999 for 135 players 11-12 (n=29), 14-15 (n=61) and 16-17 (n=45) years. Based on records of the Portuguese Soccer Federation for the 2018-2019 season, 63 of the players were not involved in soccer as adults, while 47 played at the amateur level and 25 played professionally. Among players 11-12 years, those playing professionally as adults performed significantly better in the jump and sprint compared to peers no longer playing, while among players 14-15 years, those playing professionally as adults were significantly taller and performed better in the sprint as youth. Among players 16-17 years, in contrast, those playing soccer as an amateur or professionally and those no longer involved as adults did not differ as youth in body size, skeletal and pubertal maturity status, and performances. Comparisons of the youth characteristics of those playing soccer as adults and those no longer involved indicated no consistent pattern in the three competitive age groups considered. Unfortunately, information on soccer-specific skills and coach perceptions of skills and characteristics of youth players was not available.</p>","PeriodicalId":55365,"journal":{"name":"Biology of Sport","volume":"43 ","pages":"693-701"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13217400/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}