The level of aerobic capacity in elite youth soccer players and its comparison in two age categories
Abstract
Purpose The main purpose of this study was to compare total run distances, which is an indicator of a player's aerobic capacity, in U16 and U17 junior categories in intermittent recovery Yo-Yo test. The secondary purpose was to find out physiological responses (maximum heart rate and maximum oxygen consumption value) in Yo- Yo intermittent recovery test (Yo-Yo IRT).
Material and method The monitored groups consisted of U16 category (n = 14, age = 15.5 +- 0.2 years, body height = 173.6 +- 7.8 cm, body weight = 64.5 +- 6.8 kg) and U17 category (n = 16, age = 16.4 +- 0.3 years, body height = 178.8 +- 6.4 cm, body weight = 70.6 +- 8.3 kg) players. To examine maximum aerobic capacity, Yo-Yo IRT was used.
This field test is focused on assessment of run distance, VO 2max and heart rate (HR). For statistical verification of research data, we used parametric t-test for independent samples, same variances, which were verified by Leven's test for equality of variances.
Probability of rejecting null hypothesis was set at the level of p<0.05. Results The average run distance in U16 players 1594.3 +- 287.1 m and U17 = 2002.5 m +- 331.9 m.
This difference was statistically significant t28 = -3.58; p<0.01 and equalled 20.4 %. The maximum value of heart rate (HRmax) in the younger players was HRmaxU16 = 198.9 +- 6.6 beat .min-1 and HRmaxU17 = 194.8 +- 6.8 heart rate.min-1.
The maximum oxygen consumption value (VO2max) was VO2maxU16 = 49.4 +- 2.7 ml.kg-1.min-1 and VO2maxU17 = 52.8 +- 3.2ml.kg-1.min-1 Conclusions These results are in accordance with theoretical knowledge which indicates that the players are able to achieve better performance in Yo-Yo IRT with increasing age or quality of competition.