e-space
Manchester Metropolitan University's Research Repository

    Determining age-specific velocity thresholds for elite youth female soccer players

    Harkness-Armstrong, A ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7258-4469, Till, K ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9686-0536, Datson, N ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5507-9540 and Emmonds, S ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2167-0113 (2022) Determining age-specific velocity thresholds for elite youth female soccer players. Science and Medicine in Football, 6 (5). pp. 581-588. ISSN 2473-3938

    [img]
    Preview
    Published Version
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

    Download (1MB) | Preview

    Abstract

    Purpose: This study aimed to establish age-specific velocity thresholds for Under (U)14 and U16 elite youth female soccer players. Methods: Data was collected using 10 Hz GPS units during 50 matches from 187 players (U14 n = 89; U16 n = 98). Spectral clustering identified velocity thresholds for high-speed running (HSR), very high-speed running (VHSR), and sprinting (SPR), for 699 half-match observations (U14 n = 369; U16 n = 330). Linear mixed modelling determined youth (U14 and U16) and age-group (U14 or U16) velocity thresholds, and compared distances covered between these and existing senior thresholds. The effect of playing position and playing half on velocity thresholds was also quantified. Results: Youth velocity thresholds of HSR (≥3.00 m·s−1), VHSR (≥4.83 m·s−1), and SPR (≥5.76 m·s−1) were estimated from the model. Age-group and playing position influenced velocity thresholds but playing half did not. Adoption of youth and age-group velocity thresholds resulted in greater distance covered at HSR, VHSR, and SPR (p < 0.001; moderate-large effect size [ES] = 0.86–1.97) compared to senior thresholds. Both age-groups covered similar distances (trivial-small ESs = 0.002–0.23) when adopting youth and age-group velocity thresholds. Conclusion: These youth thresholds provide an alternative to arbitrary velocity thresholds within the literature, and thresholds derived from senior players or other populations, to inform appropriate quantification and interpretation of physical data within this population.

    Impact and Reach

    Statistics

    Activity Overview
    6 month trend
    37Downloads
    6 month trend
    40Hits

    Additional statistics for this dataset are available via IRStats2.

    Altmetric

    Repository staff only

    Edit record Edit record