@Article{Malina2026,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
year="2026",
title="Growth, maturity status and performance of youth soccer players by playing status as adults",
abstract="To evaluate the growth, maturity and performance characteristics of select youth soccer players grouped by subsequent playing status as adults. Height, weight, skeletal and pubertal maturity status, and performances	on	jumping,	speed	and	aerobic	endurance	tasks	were	measured	in	1998–1999 for	135 players	11–12 (n=29),	14–15 (n=61)	and	16–17 (n=45)	years.	Based	on	records	of	the	Portuguese	Soccer	Federation	for	the	2018–2019 season,	63 of	the	players	were	not	involved	in	soccer	as	adults,	while	47 played	at	the	amateur	level	and	25 played	professionally.	Among	players	11–12 years, those playing professionally as adults performed	significantly	better	in	the	jump	and	sprint	compared	to	peers	no	longer	playing,	while	among	players	14–15 years,	those	playing	professionally	as	adults	were	significantly	taller	and	performed	better	in	the	sprint	as	youth.	Among	players	16–17 years,	in	contrast,	those	playing	soccer	as	an	amateur	or	professionally	and	those no longer involved as adults did not differ as youth in body size, skeletal and pubertal maturity status, and performances. Comparisons of the youth characteristics of those playing soccer as adults and those no longer involved indicated no consistent pattern in the three competitive age groups considered. Unfortunately, information	on	soccer-specific	skills	and	coach	perceptions	of	skills	and	characteristics	of	youth	players	was	not	available.",
author="Malina, Robert
and Horta, Luís
and Duarte, João
and Silva-Borges, Nuno
and Oliveira, Tomas
and Celis-Moreno, Jorge M.
and Tavares, Oscar
and Seabra, Andre
and Konarski, Jan
and Coelho-e-Silva, Manuel",
pages="693--701",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2026.156225",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.156225"
}