Clinical trial NCT04456374: Performance Testing in Young Soccer Players
Official title: Evaluation of Soccer-specific Performance and Body Composition in Youth Soccer Players of Different Age Groups
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Conditions: Physical Performance
Keywords: soccer
performance
youth
Lead sponsor: University of Thessaly
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-07-02
Enrollment: 120
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 11
Maximum age (years): 18
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Youth soccer players (aged 11-18 years) participating in regular soccer practice and competition with a training age of ≥ 3 years.

Brief summary: The aim of this study is to investigate physiological characteristics, body composition and performance indicators among youth soccer players of four age categories (U-12, U-14, U-16, and U-18). Participants will undergo assessment of their body weight, body height and percent of body fat as well as performance testing including flexibility, strength, vertical jump, speed, repeated sprint ability, agility, dribbling and endurance.

Detailed description: This study aims at investigating anthropometric, body composition and performance indicators among male youth soccer players. The study will be conducted prior to the preparation period. Initially, participants and their parents (for those under 18 years) will be informed about the benefits, risks and discomforts associated with the study and will provide a written consent. Participants will be instructed to refrain from strenuous exercise for at least 48 hours prior to testing and they will be also asked to consume their normal diet. Prior to testing all participants will be familiarized with testing procedures and specific test. Body weight will be measured on a seca beam balance. Participants' height will be measured by using a fixed stadiometer and the percent body fat will be calculated with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Flexibility will be assessed by using the sit and reach test and the lower body explosive strength will be determined through vertical jump testing (squat jump and counter movement jump without arm swing). Knee flexor and extensor strength will be assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer. Sprint performance will be assessed from a standing start over by infrared photocells with participants running 10m and 30m as fast as they can. The repeated sprint ability will be tested by using linear sprint test including 5 maximum sprints of 30 meters with a 25-second recovery period in-between. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) will be determined by open-circuit spirometry via breath-by-breath analysis during a graded exercise test to exhaustion on a treadmill. Furthermore, participants will be evaluated in agility by using the short dribbling test and the ability to recover after repeated intense exercise through the YO-YO Intermittent Recovery test 1 (only for u-16 and U-18 groups).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged between 11 and 12 years
* Active soccer players participating in regular soccer practice and competition
* Training age ≥ 3 years
* Free of chronic diseases
* Free of musculoskeletal injury

Exclusion Criteria:

* Musculoskeletal injury
* Chronic disease
* Training age ≤ 2 years

Primary outcomes:
measure: Flexibility
timeFrame: At baseline
measure: Jumping ability
timeFrame: At baseline
measure: Maximum speed
timeFrame: At baseline
measure: Repeated sprint ability
timeFrame: At baseline
measure: Agility
timeFrame: At baseline
measure: Endurance
timeFrame: At baseline
measure: Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)
timeFrame: At baseline
measure: Knee flexor and extensor strength
timeFrame: At baseline
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Body height
timeFrame: At baseline
measure: Body weight
timeFrame: At baseline
measure: Body composition
timeFrame: At baseline
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Trikala
country: Greece
facility: University of Thessaly, School of Physical Education and Sports Science
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Thessaly
name: Athanasios Poulios, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: