A Comparison of Drop Jump and Sprint Parameters in Youth Soccer Players
Alpan Cinemre1
, Evrim Ünver1, Hande Konşuk Ünlü3, Necip Demirci2
1Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
2Department of Recreation, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
3Institute of Public Health, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Keywords: Maturation, drop jump, sprint times, reactive strength index, soccer, peak height velocity
Abstract
Objective: The purposes of this study were to investigate the comparison of some stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) parameters, and to correlate reactive strength index (RSI) scores from drop jumps (DJ) and sprint times (ST) among maturation groups according to peak height velocity (PHV).
Methods: A total of 108 youth soccer players were included in this study (age: 13.0±1.5 years old; height: 162.7±12.1 cm; weight: 53.1±11.7 kg). Participants were divided into three groups (Pre-PHV, Mid-PHV and Post-PHV) according to calculation using the maturity offset equation. DJ tests from 20 and 40 cm drop heights (DH) and 30 m sprint tests were made by participants. RSI scores were taken during DJs. All tests were performed twice. One-way ANOVA and Welch ANOVA tests were performed to test differences between more than two independent groups for normally-distributed data. If a significant difference was found, Bonferroni and Games-Howell tests were performed for multiple comparisons, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for bivariate correlations between numeric variables, where appropriate. A value of p<0.05 was accepted as significant.
Results: RSI scores of 20 cm DJ were significantly different among groups (p<0.001). RSI of 40 cm DJ of the Pre-PHV group was significantly different than the other groups (p<0.001). All maturation groups were significantly different in terms of sprint times (p<0.001). The RSI of 20 cm DH was correlated with 20 m ST in the Mid-PHV group. But RSI of 40 cm DH was correlated predominantly with 20 m ST in youth soccer (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The main finding of this study was that 40 cm drop height and 20 m sprint distance are more optimal to be used to monitor SSC performances of youth soccer players during maturation.
Cite this article as: Cinemre A, Unver E, Konsuk Unlu H, Demirci N. A Comparison of drop jump and sprint parameters in youth soccer players. Turk J Sports Med. 2020;55(2):148-55.
