Training duration may not be a predisposing factor in potential maladaptations in talent development programmes that promote early specialisation in elite youth soccer

Thomas E Brownlee, Andy O’Boyle, Ryland Morgans, James P Morton, Robert M Erskine, Barry Drust

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose
To determine whether training duration is a predisposing factor in potential maladaptations in talent development programmes that promote early specialisation in elite youth soccer.

Methods
Training times and type of 184 elite soccer players, from the under-9 to under-21 age groups (age 9.4 to 18.4 yrs; stature 1.38 to 1.82 m; body mass 32.2 to 76.2 kg) were recorded.

Results
Total training time progressively increased between the under-9 (268 ± 25 min/week) and under-14 (477 ± 19 min/week) groups with the majority of training time (96.5 ± 3.9%) consisting of soccer training and matches. Total training time then subsequently reduced from under-14 to under-15 (266 ± 77 min/week) groups, with no differences in training time between under-15 and under-21. Only under-15 to under-21 players completed resistance training; this inclusion coincided with a reduction in soccer training and match play when compared to time spent in these activities for younger groups (73.8 ± 3.2% of total training).

Conclusion
Data suggest that although the majority of training is focused on technical development, the training duration as a whole is unlikely to contribute to potential maladaptations in talent development programmes in elite youth soccer.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)674–678
Number of pages5
JournalInternational Journal of Sports Science and Coaching
Volume13
Issue number5
Early online date11 Jan 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Oct 2018

Keywords

  • association football
  • elite player performance plan
  • soccer
  • youth sport

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