@Article{da Costa2023,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
volume="40",
number="1",
year="2023",
title="Body size, maturation and motor performance in young soccer players: relationship to technical actions in small-sided games",
abstract="The objective of this study was to investigate the relative contributions of body size, skeletal age, and motor performance variables with technical actions through an ecological model during small-sided soccer games, and the interaction of biological maturation with technical and motor performance in young players. In this cross-sectional study, eighty-two young players (14.4 ±1.1 years), belonging to state-level soccer teams and divided by category (U-13 and U-15), were included. Players having an injury in the evaluation period were not included in the study. Measurements of body size, skeletal age (SA), motor tests, and technical actions in small-sided games (SSG) were performed (3×3 plus goalkeeper) in two periods (halves) of four minutes. Differences between age groups were found for SA (ES = -2.36), chronological age (ES = -3.89), body mass (ES = -2.09), height (ES = -1.90), and fat-free mass (ES = -2.09). Positive associations were found between body size (R = 0.43 to R = 0.48) and manipulation (R = 0.50 to R = 0.52) indicators and numbers of technical actions (CB and SS), except for stature with LB (R = -0.42) in the U-13 age group. In the U-15 category, skeletal age (R = -0.29 to R = -0.30) and body mass (R = -0.28 to R = -0.29) were negatively associated with the number of technical actions (RB, NB, LB, and OB) (P > 0.05) and positively with the balance with LB (R = 0.26). In conclusion, body size, SA, and motor performance influenced technical actions in SSG differentially in each category.  U-13 heavier players and those with a better motor performance presented higher involvement due to the higher number of performed technical actions (receiving the ball, playing a neutral and playing an offensive ball) during SSG.",
author="da Costa, Julio Cesar
and Borges, Paulo Henrique
and Ramos-Silva, Luiz Fernando
and Muller Reis Weber, Vinicius
and Moreira, Alexandre
and Vaz Ronque, Enio Ricardo",
pages="51--61",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2023.110749",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2023.110749"
}