Abstract
This study aims to clarify the relationship between the birth quarters, biological
maturity and physical fitness (PF) in Under-15 youth soccer players. Each participant
(n=133) was an Under-15 player from a top-elite soccer academy. The data collection
period lasted 8 years (from Under-15 2002/2003 to 2009/2010 season). The athletes’
birth dates were recorded and organized by birth quarters (Q1, first; Q2, second;
Q3, third; Q4, fourth) and by semesters (S1, first; S2, second). Additionally recorded
were each athlete’s biological maturity (skeletal age, SA), anthropometric profile
(stature; body mass; thigh, calf and upper arm girths), and fitness profile (10-m
and 30-m sprint times; SJ; CMJ; shuttles in YYIR Test). Significant differences were
found for (1) decimal age and SA by quarters (Q4-Q1, Q2) and semesters; and (2) stature
(Q3-Q1, Q2, Q4; S1-S2), body mass (Q1-Q3; S1-S2), thigh girth (S1-S2), SJ (Q1-Q2)
and sprint time (Q4-Q1, Q2; S1-S2). When maturity was considered as covariate all
PF variables, with exception of SJ (Q1-Q2) and 10-m sprint time (S1-S2), were very
similar among the studied groups. These findings suggest that (1) seasonal birth effect
may result from the observed biological maturation differences, and (2) athletes may
have been chosen due to their PF attributes.
Key words
anthropometry - fitness - relative age effect - skeletal age - talent identification
