Speed and Agility Predictors among Adolescent Male Football Players

Cíntia França, Élvio Gouveia, Romualdo Caldeira, Adilson Marques, João Martins, Helder Lopes, Ricardo Henriques and Andreas Ihle
Additional contact information
Cíntia França: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Élvio Gouveia: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Romualdo Caldeira: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Adilson Marques: CIPER, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1499-002 Lisbon, Portugal
João Martins: CIPER, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1499-002 Lisbon, Portugal
Helder Lopes: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Ricardo Henriques: Marítimo da Madeira—Futebol, SAD, 9020-208 Funchal, Portugal
Andreas Ihle: Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-10

Abstract: This study aimed to examine the associations between lower-body explosive strength (squat jump—SJ, and countermovement jump—CMJ), speed (10- and 35-m linear sprints), and agility ( t -test) capacities, after controlling for crucial predictors such as chronological age (CA) and body composition. The sample was composed of 164 adolescent male football players from under 19, under 17, and under 15 age groups. Body fat percentage (BF%) was significantly and positively related to body mass, speed, and agility. In contrast, BF% was a significant negative predictor of lower-body explosive strength. Sprint and t -test times were significantly and negatively correlated with lower-body explosive strength. After controlling for CA and body composition, SJ was the most significant predictor, accounting for 36 to 37% of the variance observed in the 35 m linear sprint and the t -test performance. Our main results suggest that lower-body explosive strength, particularly in the SJ, is a significant predictor of male adolescent male football players’ speed and agility capacities. Conversely, detrimental relationships between BF% and these outcomes were observed. Sports agents should consider lower-body explosive strength development as part of the youth football training process, particularly to improve maximal sprint and change of direction times, which are crucial to game performance.

Keywords: explosive strength; countermovement jump; squat jump; body fat; body composition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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