Change of direction asymmetry across different age categories in youth soccer
Background In youth, the development of change of direction (COD) and sprint performance is a key component for successfully competing in soccer across age. During a COD, the presence of directional asymmetries may be detrimental due to the unpredictable nature of the sport. Therefore, the aims of t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2020-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/9486.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797424157604970496 |
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| author | Athos Trecroci Alessio Rossi Thomas Dos’Santos Damiano Formenti Luca Cavaggioni Stefano Longo F. Marcello Iaia Giampietro Alberti |
| author_facet | Athos Trecroci Alessio Rossi Thomas Dos’Santos Damiano Formenti Luca Cavaggioni Stefano Longo F. Marcello Iaia Giampietro Alberti |
| author_sort | Athos Trecroci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background In youth, the development of change of direction (COD) and sprint performance is a key component for successfully competing in soccer across age. During a COD, the presence of directional asymmetries may be detrimental due to the unpredictable nature of the sport. Therefore, the aims of the study were to investigate asymmetries in COD ability and to examine the differences in COD and sprint performance across age in young soccer players. Methods Sixty-eight sub-elite soccer players of different age categories (U18, U17, U16, U15) were tested on a 10-m linear sprint test and 90°COD (5-m entry and exit) test in both directions. Asymmetric index (AI) of COD deficit was obtained for dominant (fastest) and non-dominant directions (slowest). Results The results showed that U16 were more asymmetrical than U18, U17, and U15 from large to moderate effects. The sprint time improved linearly across age with U18 and U15 displaying the fastest and slowest 10-m sprint performance (p < 0.01), respectively. Moreover, COD ability measured by COD deficit did not change across age (p > 0.05). Conclusion Given the results of this study, practitioners are encouraged to assess asymmetries between dominant and non-dominant directions rather than solely players’ COD ability in young soccer players. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:58:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ec3cd1d19f84ed4b2588b10ef2e6959 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:58:12Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ec3cd1d19f84ed4b2588b10ef2e69592023-12-03T00:50:03ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592020-07-018e948610.7717/peerj.9486Change of direction asymmetry across different age categories in youth soccerAthos Trecroci0Alessio Rossi1Thomas Dos’Santos2Damiano Formenti3Luca Cavaggioni4Stefano Longo5F. Marcello Iaia6Giampietro Alberti7Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Computer Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyHuman Performance Laboratory, Directorate of Sport, Exercise, and Physiotherapy, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United KingdomDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV), University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, ItalyBackground In youth, the development of change of direction (COD) and sprint performance is a key component for successfully competing in soccer across age. During a COD, the presence of directional asymmetries may be detrimental due to the unpredictable nature of the sport. Therefore, the aims of the study were to investigate asymmetries in COD ability and to examine the differences in COD and sprint performance across age in young soccer players. Methods Sixty-eight sub-elite soccer players of different age categories (U18, U17, U16, U15) were tested on a 10-m linear sprint test and 90°COD (5-m entry and exit) test in both directions. Asymmetric index (AI) of COD deficit was obtained for dominant (fastest) and non-dominant directions (slowest). Results The results showed that U16 were more asymmetrical than U18, U17, and U15 from large to moderate effects. The sprint time improved linearly across age with U18 and U15 displaying the fastest and slowest 10-m sprint performance (p < 0.01), respectively. Moreover, COD ability measured by COD deficit did not change across age (p > 0.05). Conclusion Given the results of this study, practitioners are encouraged to assess asymmetries between dominant and non-dominant directions rather than solely players’ COD ability in young soccer players.https://peerj.com/articles/9486.pdfLimb dominanceSprintChange of directionImbalanceYouth |
| spellingShingle | Athos Trecroci Alessio Rossi Thomas Dos’Santos Damiano Formenti Luca Cavaggioni Stefano Longo F. Marcello Iaia Giampietro Alberti Change of direction asymmetry across different age categories in youth soccer PeerJ Limb dominance Sprint Change of direction Imbalance Youth |
| title | Change of direction asymmetry across different age categories in youth soccer |
| title_full | Change of direction asymmetry across different age categories in youth soccer |
| title_fullStr | Change of direction asymmetry across different age categories in youth soccer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Change of direction asymmetry across different age categories in youth soccer |
| title_short | Change of direction asymmetry across different age categories in youth soccer |
| title_sort | change of direction asymmetry across different age categories in youth soccer |
| topic | Limb dominance Sprint Change of direction Imbalance Youth |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/9486.pdf |
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