engleski

Maturity-Associated Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Physical Performance of Youth Croatian Soccer Players

The basic aim of this study was to ascertain the differences of the morphological features and motor and aerobic abilities of U-14 soccer players of different biological age. The research was conducted on 21 young soccer player, whose average age was 13.4 years. The biological maturity was visually estimated by using the sexual maturity phase classification according to Tanner, and they were tested by six anthropometric characteristics tests and seven motor ability evaluation tests. The data was analysed by using one-way ANOVA and Post Hoc unequal HSD test. The results show that there are three different biologically mature groups within the same chronological group of examinees (pre-puberty – Tanner classification I, early puberty – Tanner classification II, and middle puberty – Tanner classification III). The greatest differences between the groups were manifested through morphological characteristics and explosive power. The research confirmed that there was a danger of perceiving biologically less mature children as less talented because of their size and strength disadvantages comparing to early mature players.

biological age; morphological characteristics; aerobic abilities

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