Speed, agility and dribbling of young Brazilian soccer players: normative data according to chronological age and biological maturation

Hugo Leonardo Barros de Paula; Francisco Zacaron Werneck; Dilson Borges Ribeiro Junior; Lívia Costa dos Reis Souza; Emerson Filipino Coelho; João Carlos Bouzas Marins

doi:10.1590/1980-0037.2026v28e112380

Autores/as

Hugo Leonardo Barros de Paula Federal University of Viçosa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4844-5386
Francisco Zacaron Werneck Federal University of Juiz de Fora https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1966-8820
Dilson Borges Ribeiro Junior Federal University of Juiz de Fora https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4616-1761
Lívia Costa dos Reis Souza Federal University of Juiz de Fora https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1704-6094
Emerson Filipino Coelho Federal University of Juiz de Fora https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0601-9672
João Carlos Bouzas Marins Federal University of Viçosa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0727-3450

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-0037.2026v28e112380

Palabras clave:

Athletes, soccer, youth, maturation, reference values

Resumen

Physical and technical skill tests are often used in the identification and selection of soccer talent. The objective was to establish reference values for speed, agility and dribbling tests in young Brazilian soccer players, according to chronological age and biological maturation. There was a total of 327 male athletes participating, aged between 12 and 17, from a talent development program. Speed (20 m), agility and dribbling tests were performed, with the 10th, 30th, 50th, 70th, 90th and 98th percentiles being calculated. Somatic maturation was evaluated by the percentage of predicted adult stature. Reference values were reported for the age groups 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 years, stratified by maturation status. Motor performance and technical skill improve from 12 to 14-15 years and then stabilize. Maturation influences motor performance, but not technical ability. Biologically early athletes showed better performance in the 20 m sprint test when compared to on time athletes at 13 years of age (3.25 ± 0.16s vs. 3.36 ± 0.21s; p=0.01; d=0. 59) and at 14 years old (3.12 ± 0.10s vs. 3.20 ± 0.16s; p=0.049; d=0.62), respectively. Furthermore, at 17 years of age, early athletes were more agile than on time athletes (7.54 ± 0.28s vs. 8.04 ± 0.64s; p=0.03; d=1.09). Significant differences were not observed in dribbling test between biologically on time and early athletes.

Citas

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