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Pre-Season Changes in Physical Performance and Early Competitive Squad Inclusion in Under-15 Male Soccer Players

delete2026-07-30
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OA
AI
A
Artur Avelino Birk Preissler *
F
Filipe Manuel Clemente
J
Júlio Brugnara Mello
A
Ana Filipa Silva
R
Rui Silva
P
Pedro Schons
DOI:10.3390/jfmk11030300delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Background: Pre-season physical monitoring may help coaches understand short-term changes in youth soccer players and examine whether physical indicators are associated with early squad inclusion. This study aimed to analyze changes in physical performance during the pre-season period and to examine whether pre- and post-assessment physical performance differed between squad-included and non-included under-15 male soccer players in the first five official matches of the main competition. Methods: Thirty-seven male outfield players were assessed using the Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), 20 m linear sprint (Sprint-20 m), 20 m change-in-direction test (COD-20 m), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IRL1). Squad-included players were those listed in at least one of the first five official match reports, whereas non-included players were not listed in these reports but remained part of the broader under-15 program. Results: Significant increases were observed in SJ (+1.44 cm, p = 0.007), CMJ (+1.36 cm, p = 0.006), and COD-20 m (+0.38 km·h−1, p = 0.002), whereas Sprint-20 m and Yo-Yo IRL1 did not change significantly. Fourteen players were squad-included and 23 were non-included. Squad-included players presented higher pre-assessment values for SJ, CMJ, COD-20 m, and the exploratory composite physical score, and higher post-assessment values for SJ, CMJ, Sprint-20 m, COD-20 m, and the exploratory composite physical score. The largest between-group difference was observed for post-assessment COD-20 m (14.19 ± 0.49 vs. 13.40 ± 0.74 km·h−1, p < 0.001, d = 1.25). Conclusions: Early squad inclusion was associated with higher absolute physical performance, particularly post-assessment COD-20 m, whereas the magnitude of pre-to-post changes was not clearly associated with squad inclusion.
Keywords:
youth soccer
physical performance
pre-season
squad inclusion
change in direction
biological maturation

Journal

J
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
IF:
2.5
Papers:
1.0K
Citations:
1.8K

Organization

U
university of coimbra
Scholars:
868
Papers: 359
Citations: 1
F
faculdade sogipa
Scholars:
3
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
P
Polytechnic University of Coimbra
Scholars:
78
Papers: 46
Citations: 0
I
instituto politécnico de viana do castelo
Scholars:
68
Papers: 29
Citations: 0
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso cover
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
Scholars:
610
Papers: 302
Citations: 2.7K
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