Estimating somatic maturity in adolescent soccer players: methodological comparisons

Salter, Jamie, Cummings, Sean, Hughes, Jonathan ORCID: 0000-0002-9905-8055 and De Ste Croix, Mark B ORCID: 0000-0001-9911-4355 (2022) Estimating somatic maturity in adolescent soccer players: methodological comparisons. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 17 (1). doi:10.1177/17479541211020418

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Abstract

Purpose: Monitoring maturation facilitates effective talent development. Various methods of maturity estimation exist with limited knowledge of concordance between methods. This study aims to establish agreement between methods of varied constructs to predict maturity status and compare concordance of methods to categorise players using established thresholds. Methods: This study compared four maturity equations using anthropometrical data from 113 male adolescent soccer players (mean ±SD; age, 14.3 ±1 years) from two academies. Conservative (±1 year) and less conservative (±0.5 years) circa-PHV thresholds were employed. Results: Analysis indicates tight (±0.3 year) agreement between maturity offset methods (MO), but broader agreement between MO and predicted adult height methods (-1.5 to 1 year). However, Kappa Cohen k suggests moderate to substantial (44-67%) and fair to moderate (31-60%) concordance between methods when using the conservative and less conservative circa-PHV thresholds respectively. Conclusion: Despite MO equation iterations claiming to reduce systematic error, they provide very similar estimations. Additionally, practitioners should not use maturity offset and predicted adult height methods interchangeably and are encouraged to apply either method consistently when looking to estimate maturity status or biologically classify players.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Anthropometry; Association football; Biological classification; Peak height velocity; Talent development
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ125 Physiology of children and adolescents > RJ131 Children Growth. Child development
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Rhiannon Goodland
Date Deposited:	11 May 2021 08:49
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:07
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/9682

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