Physiological differences in elite and sub-elite young soccer players

BACKGROUND: Studying speed, strength, and endurance performance to identify putative predictor factors of talent in young soccer players is of great practical importance. METHODS: A cross-sectional study. Testing of 468 young soccer players, students of an elite soccer academy and its lower-tier subsidiary, both located in Moscow, Russia, aged 7-17 years has been performed (N.=468, average age 11.3 +/- 3 years, height 152.9 +/- 18 cm, weight 43.7 +/- 16 kg). The following tests have been performed: 5, 15, 30 m sprint runs; long standing-jump; shuttle runs 7x30 m. (starting with the U13 players); handgrip strength measurement. RESULTS: Significantly higher height (P=0.048), weight (P=0.007), and BMI (P=0.024) were observed in the group of elite soccer U7; higher height and weight in U11 (P=0.003 and P=0.011); and higher height in the U13 players (P=0.002). The elite U8 players demonstrated superior horizontal jump results (P<0.001). Significantly superior running performance was observed in the group of U8 elite players in 5 and 15m sprints; 15 and 30m sprints in U12, 15, 16 players and 15m sprints in U13 players. Sub-elite U9 players showed superior running performance in 5m sprints. Significantly superior left-hand strength was observed in the group of U11 elite players old's (P=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Several differences were revealed between the elite and sub-elite soccer players. The difference in speed parameters was most pronounced (sprint runs). Some age sub-groups demonstrated differences in anthropometric parameters. No relevant difference in endurance and strength parameters were detected, except for one age group.