Investigating the Correlation of Maturity, Performance and Hormonal Indices with the Time of Playing (Competition) in Elite Adolescent Football Players During the Season

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Ebrahim Eskandari Fard 1
Mehdi Kargar Fard 2
Antnio Figueredo 3
1 Ph.D. Student in Sport Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2 Professor of Sport Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
3 Professor of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
10.22089/spj.2020.9394.2064
Abstract
Time of playing (Competition) may be affected by the maturity level, hormonal indices as well as the level of physical fitness of adolescent players, therefore the present study, with the purpose of this study is to determine and correlate the maturity, functional and hormonal indices with the time of playing (Competition) in elite football players. Thirty-one elite youth soccer players with a mean age of 16.51±0.252 years were studied over the football season then, the time of playing (Competition) of player was registered. At the end of the season, anthropometric characteristics, hormonal (GH, IGF-1) indices by chemiluminescence, maturity status by skeletal age, fitness tests (CMJ, 7RST, and Yo-Yo Test) Were measured. Pearson and Spearman correlation methods were used to specify the relationship between variables and multiple linear regression to explain the time of playing (Competition) of players (p < 0.05). The results of correlation between variables showed that time of playing with VO2max (r = 0.56), skeletal age (p = -0.42), CMJ (r = 0.40), maturity offset (r = -0.38) And IGF-1 (r = 0.36) had a significant relationship. Multiple linear regression analysis with R2=0.55 was significantly predicted players' time of playing (Competition). The results of the present study showed that high levels of insulin-like growth hormone and VO2max play a preponderant role in selecting and minutes of playing (Competition) of players in competitions. However, it appears to be more pragmatic to consider other contextual dimensions, as they can impact time of playing (Competition) in a match.
Keywords
Football
Skeletal Age
Fels Method
Time of Playing (Competition)
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)

Main Subjects

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Sport Physiology
Volume 12, Issue 48
January 2021
Pages 61-82

  • Receive Date 03 September 2020
  • Revise Date 22 December 2020
  • Accept Date 27 December 2020