Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine the level, dependence and structure of speed indicators in young elite soccer players. METHODS: The screened sample consisted of players from the U16 Czech national team (n = 22, age = 15.6 +- 0.4 years, body height = 177.7 +- 6.9 cm, body weight = 67.9 +- 8.7 kg).
Speed indicators were detected in the following tests: sprint at 5 and 10 m (S5, S10), maximum speed at 20 m flying sprint (MS20), agility test 505 with turns for the dominant (A5D) and non-dominant lower limb (A5N), agility K-test (AK), the speed of instep kick for the dominant (SKD) and non-dominant lower limb (SKN). Photocell gates (Brower Timing System) were used for speed diagnostics and radar gun STALKER ATS was used for the measuring of ball speed.
Pearson's correlation coefficient and factor analysis (Extraction method: Principal component analysis with Varimax rotation) were applied to detect dependence and structure of the variables. RESULTS: Players' speed in the tests was as follows: S5 = 1.09 +- 0.06 s, S10 = 1.85 +- 0.08 s, MS20 = 2.48 +- 0.09 s, A5D and A5N = 2.42 +- 0.09 s, AK = 10.65 +- 0.37 s, SKD = 102.89 +- 4.45 kmBULLET OPERATORh-1, SKN = 90.50 +-7.71 kmh-1.
A significant correlation was found between these parameters: S5 vs. S10 (p < 0.01), S10 vs.
MS20 (p < 0.05), MS20 vs. A5N (p < 0.01), A5N vs.
AK (p < 0.01) and SKD vs. SKN (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSION Results indicated 3 speed components in the soccer players. Acceleration speed, agility and acyclic speed form independent speed components.
This knowledge should be respected when stimulating speed abilities in sports training.