Title Chronological age-based vs. Bio-banded friendly football tournament: Effects on physical performance and spatial exploration behaviour in 7v7 match play
Authors Arede, Jorge , Radnor, John M. , GONZALO SKOK, OLIVER, Leite, Nuno
External publication No
Means JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
Scope Article
Nature Científica
JCR Quartile 1
SJR Quartile 1
Web https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85188276050&doi=10.1080%2f02640414.2024.2328968&partnerID=40&md5=880da01f6d00eeef603befc55a783225
Publication date 15/03/2024
ISI 001184288900001
Scopus Id 2-s2.0-85188276050
DOI 10.1080/02640414.2024.2328968
Abstract Biological age-based competitions have been suggested to mitigate maturation bias among youth football players. This study analysed the physical demands and spatial exploration behaviour when playing football matches against biological or chronological age-based opposition. One-hundred and sixteen U-13 and U-14 male regional-level football players were recruited from five Portuguese football academies. Each player completed eight games, four per condition (chronological and biological-based), on the same day. Games were played in 7 vs. 7 formats, with 20-min duration, and conformed to standard officiating and rule procedures. The following variables were considered from GPS-data in each game: distance covered, high-intensity accelerations and decelerations, body impacts, and average and peak speeds. Furthermore, average, and peak heart rates (HRpeak) and spatial exploration index were collected. Players covered significantly less distance (ES = 1.11), performed fewer decelerations (ES = 0.82), achieved lower average speeds (ES = 1.15), had fewer body impacts (ES = 0.94), and recorded lower HRpeak (ES = 0.56) in the biological age-based competition compared to the chronological-age-based. No significant differences were found between the two formats in spatial exploration. Both game formats offer distinct physical demands at the external and internal levels. Finally, practitioners can manipulate the type of opposition to get distinct physical demands to mitigate the effect of maturation bias during development.
Keywords Biological age; talent; development; puberty; adolescence; team-sports
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