The running and technical performance of U13 to U18 elite Japanese soccer players during match play

Goto, H and Saward, C ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9363-3410, 2019. The running and technical performance of U13 to U18 elite Japanese soccer players during match play. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. ISSN 1064-8011

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Abstract

The aims of the current study were: 1) to examine age-related differences in match-running performance with two different approaches (speed vs metabolic power) in U13 to U18 Japanese elite soccer players; 2) to examine age-related differences in technical match performance in U13 to U18 Japanese elite soccer players. Participants were 110 field players from academies of two professional soccer clubs in Japan. Forty-eight 11-a-side official league matches (13, 6, 9, 7, 6 and 7 matches for U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18 age groups, respectively) were analyzed (152 complete match-files). Global Positioning System (15Hz) and video analysis were employed to analyze running and technical performance during matches, respectively. Total distance covered in absolute terms (U13 < (U14 and U15) < (U16-U18), P < 0.05 for all), high-intensity running distance ((U13-U15) < (U16-U18), P < 0.05 for all) and distance covered during the metabolic power zone ≥ 35 w∙kg-1 relative to match playing time ((U13 < U16), (U13-U15) < (U17 and U18), P < 0.05 for all), increased with age. The speed zone based approach (high-intensity running distance, ≥ 4.0 m∙s-1) underestimated high-intensity demands compared to the metabolic power zone based approach (≥ 20 W·kg-1) by ~33% to ~57% (P < 0.01 for all), with the underestimation declining with age (P < 0.001). Pass accuracy improved with age from 73% at U13 to 85% at U18 (P < 0.001). Therefore, distance covered at high speeds and at high metabolic powers, and pass accuracy increase with age. Moreover, the speed zone-based approach underestimates the demands of match play in Japanese elite youth soccer players. The current results could support coaches to develop players, identify talent and produce age-specific training programs.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Creators:	Goto, H. and Saward, C.
Publisher:	Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Date:	6 September 2019
ISSN:	1064-8011
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003300 DOI 31498224 PubMed ID
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	19 Jun 2019 13:08
Last Modified:	31 May 2021 15:17
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/36871

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