Seasonal changes in the force velocity sprint profile of Spanish youth football players across age categories

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the force-velocity (F-V) profile and 30-metres sprint times of youth football players over a competitive season and across different age groups. Sixty-four players were categorized into five age groups (Under-10 (U10), Under-12 (U1...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Antonio Hernandez-Martin, Jorge Garcia-Unanue, Fabio R. Serpiello, Antonio Alonso-Callejo, Jose Luis Felipe, Leonor Gallardo, Javier Sanchez-Sanchez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89501-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850201131064492032
author Antonio Hernandez-Martin
Jorge Garcia-Unanue
Fabio R. Serpiello
Antonio Alonso-Callejo
Jose Luis Felipe
Leonor Gallardo
Javier Sanchez-Sanchez
author_facet Antonio Hernandez-Martin
Jorge Garcia-Unanue
Fabio R. Serpiello
Antonio Alonso-Callejo
Jose Luis Felipe
Leonor Gallardo
Javier Sanchez-Sanchez
author_sort Antonio Hernandez-Martin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the force-velocity (F-V) profile and 30-metres sprint times of youth football players over a competitive season and across different age groups. Sixty-four players were categorized into five age groups (Under-10 (U10), Under-12 (U12), Under-14 (U14), Under-16 (U16), Under-18 (U18)) and assessed at three time points during the season: the pre-season (P1), mid-season (P2), and end season (P3) using GNSS/GPS technology. Results showed that the theoretical maximum force (F0) increased by the end of the season compared to the baseline in U14, U16, and U18 (p < 0.05; ES: 1.92–5.19) and was also higher at the end compared to mid-season in U14 players (p < 0.05; ES: 3.01). The theoretical maximum velocity (V0) was significantly higher at the end of the season compared to the baseline in U12 (p < 0.05; ES: 2.61) and mid-season in U12 and U16 players (p < 0.05; ES: 1.70–2.37). U10 and U12 showed lower F0 and V0 values compared to older players across all periods. The study concludes that both the timing of the season and the age influence the F-V profile, with older age groups showing greater improvements. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing training programs tailored to the seasonal changes and age of football.
format Article
id doaj-art-e5476a93a3f9426da1a08286ddef1fcb
institution OA Journals
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-e5476a93a3f9426da1a08286ddef1fcb2025-08-20T02:12:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-011511710.1038/s41598-025-89501-3Seasonal changes in the force velocity sprint profile of Spanish youth football players across age categoriesAntonio Hernandez-Martin0Jorge Garcia-Unanue1Fabio R. Serpiello2Antonio Alonso-Callejo3Jose Luis Felipe4Leonor Gallardo5Javier Sanchez-Sanchez6Deparment of Sports Sciences. Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea de MadridIGOID Research Group, Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Department, University of Castilla-La ManchaSchool of Health Medical and Applied Sciences, Human Exercise and Training Lab, Central Queensland UniversityIGOID Research Group, Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Department, University of Castilla-La ManchaIGOID Research Group, Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Department, University of Castilla-La ManchaIGOID Research Group, Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Department, University of Castilla-La ManchaDeparment of Sports Sciences. Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea de MadridAbstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the force-velocity (F-V) profile and 30-metres sprint times of youth football players over a competitive season and across different age groups. Sixty-four players were categorized into five age groups (Under-10 (U10), Under-12 (U12), Under-14 (U14), Under-16 (U16), Under-18 (U18)) and assessed at three time points during the season: the pre-season (P1), mid-season (P2), and end season (P3) using GNSS/GPS technology. Results showed that the theoretical maximum force (F0) increased by the end of the season compared to the baseline in U14, U16, and U18 (p < 0.05; ES: 1.92–5.19) and was also higher at the end compared to mid-season in U14 players (p < 0.05; ES: 3.01). The theoretical maximum velocity (V0) was significantly higher at the end of the season compared to the baseline in U12 (p < 0.05; ES: 2.61) and mid-season in U12 and U16 players (p < 0.05; ES: 1.70–2.37). U10 and U12 showed lower F0 and V0 values compared to older players across all periods. The study concludes that both the timing of the season and the age influence the F-V profile, with older age groups showing greater improvements. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing training programs tailored to the seasonal changes and age of football.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89501-3FootballForceVelocityGNSS/GPSYoung
spellingShingle Antonio Hernandez-Martin
Jorge Garcia-Unanue
Fabio R. Serpiello
Antonio Alonso-Callejo
Jose Luis Felipe
Leonor Gallardo
Javier Sanchez-Sanchez
Seasonal changes in the force velocity sprint profile of Spanish youth football players across age categories
Scientific Reports
Football
Force
Velocity
GNSS/GPS
Young
title Seasonal changes in the force velocity sprint profile of Spanish youth football players across age categories
title_full Seasonal changes in the force velocity sprint profile of Spanish youth football players across age categories
title_fullStr Seasonal changes in the force velocity sprint profile of Spanish youth football players across age categories
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal changes in the force velocity sprint profile of Spanish youth football players across age categories
title_short Seasonal changes in the force velocity sprint profile of Spanish youth football players across age categories
title_sort seasonal changes in the force velocity sprint profile of spanish youth football players across age categories
topic Football
Force
Velocity
GNSS/GPS
Young
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89501-3
work_keys_str_mv AT antoniohernandezmartin seasonalchangesintheforcevelocitysprintprofileofspanishyouthfootballplayersacrossagecategories
AT jorgegarciaunanue seasonalchangesintheforcevelocitysprintprofileofspanishyouthfootballplayersacrossagecategories
AT fabiorserpiello seasonalchangesintheforcevelocitysprintprofileofspanishyouthfootballplayersacrossagecategories
AT antonioalonsocallejo seasonalchangesintheforcevelocitysprintprofileofspanishyouthfootballplayersacrossagecategories
AT joseluisfelipe seasonalchangesintheforcevelocitysprintprofileofspanishyouthfootballplayersacrossagecategories
AT leonorgallardo seasonalchangesintheforcevelocitysprintprofileofspanishyouthfootballplayersacrossagecategories
AT javiersanchezsanchez seasonalchangesintheforcevelocitysprintprofileofspanishyouthfootballplayersacrossagecategories