Speed, Change of Direction Speed and Reactive Agility in Adolescent Soccer Players: Age Related Differences

Slobodan Andrašić, Marko Gušić, Mima Stanković, Draženka Mačak, Asim Bradić, Goran Sporiš and Nebojša Trajković
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Slobodan Andrašić: Faculty of Economics, University of Novi Sad, 24000 Subotica, Serbia
Marko Gušić: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Mima Stanković: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia
Draženka Mačak: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Asim Bradić: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Goran Sporiš: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Nebojša Trajković: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-7

Abstract: There are a plethora of studies investigating agility in soccer; however, studies have rarely presented the reaction time in differentiating age groups in adolescent soccer players. We investigated age differences in reactive agility, speed, and change of direction speed (CODs), in a group of highly trained adolescent soccer players. A total of 75 adolescent male soccer players (aged 14–19 years) were recruited. The players were grouped based on their age to under 15 (U15; n = 27), under 17 (U17; n = 25), and under 19 (U19; n = 23) players. Players were tested for 5 m, 10 m, and 20 m sprint, CODs speed test, Illinois test, and reactive agility test (total and reaction time). Only the reactive agility test with a live tester (RAT live) and RAT live reaction time (RAT live RT) distinguished U19 from both groups, U17 (RAT live, p < 0.01; RAT RT live, p < 0.01) and U15 (RAT live, p < 0.01; RAT RT live, p < 0.01). Groups did not have different times for 5 m sprint, RAT light and RAT RT light, F = 0.472, 2.691, 1.023, respectively, p > 0.05. Moreover, a significantly slower average performance of sprint 20, CODs left and right, and Illinois was also observed in U15 as compared to U17 and U19 ( p < 0.05). We can conclude that results in agility tests that include live testers can be a significant factor that differentiates between adolescent soccer players considering their age.

Keywords: agility; differences; youth; performance; football (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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