A matter of time or timing: longitudinal analysis of sensitive periods for linear running speed performance and development in elite youth soccer

Maros Kalata; Jakub Lukavsky; Diogo Martinho; Craig Williams; Jan Konarski; Frantisek Zahalka; Robert Malina; Tomas Maly

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2026.161105

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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abstract:

Original paper

A matter of time or timing: longitudinal analysis of sensitive periods for linear running speed performance and development in elite youth soccer

Maros Kalata

^{1, 2}

,

Jakub Lukavsky

^{1, 2}

,

Diogo V. Martinho

^{3, 4}

,

Craig A. Williams

⁵

,

Jan M. Konarski

⁶

,

Frantisek Zahalka

^{1, 2}

,

Robert M. Malina

^{7, 8}

,

Tomas Maly

^{1, 2, 9}

Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
SK Slavia Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
CIPER, Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz-Quebrada- Dafundo, Portugal
Children’s Health and Exercise Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
Theory of Sports Department, Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland
Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
School of Public Health, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
Department of Performance, AC Sparta Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Biol Sport. 2026;43:1341–1351

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.161105

Online publish date: 2026/04/20

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EndNote

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AMA

Kalata M, Lukavsky J, Martinho DV, et al. A matter of time or timing: longitudinal analysis of sensitive periods for linear running speed performance and development in elite youth soccer. Biology of Sport. 2026;43(1):1341-1351. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2026.161105.

APA

Kalata, M., Lukavsky, J., Martinho, D. V., Williams, C. A., Konarski, J. M.,  & Zahalka, F. et al. (2026). A matter of time or timing: longitudinal analysis of sensitive periods for linear running speed performance and development in elite youth soccer. Biology of Sport, 43(1), 1341-1351. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.161105

Chicago

Kalata, Maros, Jakub Lukavsky, Diogo V Martinho, Craig A Williams, Jan M Konarski, Frantisek Zahalka,  and Robert M Malina et al. 2026. "A matter of time or timing: longitudinal analysis of sensitive periods for linear running speed performance and development in elite youth soccer". Biology of Sport 43 (1): 1341-1351. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2026.161105.

Harvard

Kalata, M., Lukavsky, J., Martinho, D., Williams, C., Konarski, J., Zahalka, F., Malina, R.,  and Maly, T. (2026). A matter of time or timing: longitudinal analysis of sensitive periods for linear running speed performance and development in elite youth soccer. Biology of Sport, 43(1), pp.1341-1351. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.161105

MLA

Kalata, Maros et al. "A matter of time or timing: longitudinal analysis of sensitive periods for linear running speed performance and development in elite youth soccer." Biology of Sport, vol. 43, no. 1, 2026, pp. 1341-1351. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2026.161105.

Vancouver

Kalata M, Lukavsky J, Martinho D, Williams C, Konarski J, Zahalka F et al. A matter of time or timing: longitudinal analysis of sensitive periods for linear running speed performance and development in elite youth soccer. Biology of Sport. 2026;43(1):1341-1351. doi:10.5114/biolsport.2026.161105.

PlumX metrics:

The objective of the study was to characterize variability in the development of maximal running speed among elite youth soccer players by evaluating its non-linear trajectory relative to both chronological age and biological maturation, and to determine how these trajectories vary relative to estimated maturity timing. A mixed-longitudinal sample of 117 male youth soccer players (10.7–15.9 years, 461 observations) was considered. Maximal running speed was measured via a 20-meter flying sprint. Biological maturity status was estimated as the percentage of predicted adult height (%PAH), and players were classified as early, average, or late maturing. Non-linear developmental trajectories were analyzed using Generalized Additive Mixed Models. Relative to estimated biological maturity status, a consistent peak rate of speed improvement at ~94.4% PAH was noted and it was preceded by a phase of accelerated improvement between ~87.6–90.7% PAH. However, relative to chronological age, the timing of the accelerated developmental phase was related to estimated maturity timing; early and average maturing players experienced this interval of accelerated gains at a significantly younger age than late-maturing peers, who showed no sustained period of acceleration. Maximal running speed performance in youth soccer players is related to biological maturity status rather than chronological age. The identified phases of accelerated improvement represent developmentally meaningful periods that may help contextualize individual differences in the development of sprinting performance and support maturitybased approaches to long-term athlete development, talent identification, and performance monitoring.

keywords:

A matter of time or timing: longitudinal analysis of sensitive periods for linear running speed performance and development in elite youth soccer

Maros Kalata 1, 2 , Jakub Lukavsky 1, 2 , Diogo V. Martinho 3, 4 , Craig A. Williams 5 , Jan M. Konarski 6 , Frantisek Zahalka 1, 2 , Robert M. Malina 7, 8 , Tomas Maly 1, 2, 9

Biological maturation, Sprinting performance, Talent development, Adolescent athletes, Growth status

Maros Kalata

^{1, 2}

,

Jakub Lukavsky

^{1, 2}

,

Diogo V. Martinho

^{3, 4}

,

Craig A. Williams

⁵

,

Jan M. Konarski

⁶

,

Frantisek Zahalka

^{1, 2}

,

Robert M. Malina

^{7, 8}

,

Tomas Maly

^{1, 2, 9}