https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34529

Association of Short-Passing Ability with Athletic Performances in Youth Soccer Players

authors:

avatar Omar BenOunis 1 , * , avatar Abderaouf BenAbderrahman 2 , avatar Karim Chamari 3 , avatar Ali Ajmol 4 , avatar Mehdi BenBrahim 5 , avatar Amor Hammouda 5 , avatar Mohamed-Ali Hammami 2 , avatar Hassane Zouhal 2

Laboratoire des Adaptations Cardio-Circulatoires, Respiratoires, Mtaboliques et Hormonales L'exercice Musculaire, Facult de Mdecine, Tunisia
Laboratoire Mouvement Sport Sant. Universit Rennes 2, Campus la Harpe, Cedex France
Research Laboratory Sports Performance Optimization National Centre of Medicine and Science in Sports, Tunis, Tunisia
School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
Laboratoire de Physiologie, Facult des Sciences de Tunis, Tunisia
Asian Journal of Sports Medicine: Vol.4, issue 1; 41-48
published online: November 30, 2012
article type: Research Article
received: July 5, 2012
accepted: November 10, 2012

how to cite: BenOunis O, BenAbderrahman A, Chamari K, Ajmol A, BenBrahim M, et al. Association of Short-Passing Ability with Athletic Performances in Youth Soccer Players. Asian J Sports Med. 2013;4(1):34529. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34529.

Abstract

Purpose:

This study was designed to examine the relationship between multiple short-passing ability [measured using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (LSPT)] and athletic performances in youth soccer players.

Methods:

Forty-two young soccer players (age 14.80.4years) performed the LSPT, the squat-jump (SqJ), the counter movement jump (CMJ), the 30m sprints (with 5m and 20m split times also recorded), the 15m agility run (Agility-15m), the 15m ball dribbling (Ball-15m), the Illinois agility test (IAGT) and the Yo-Yo IRT Level 1 tests.

Results:

LSPT total performance (LSPT TP) showed significant positive correlation with 5m, 20m, and 30m sprint times, Agility-15m, Ball-15m and Illinois agility test (r=0.60, r=0.58, r=0.49, r=0.75, r=0.71 and r=0.72; P<0.01, respectively). Significant negative correlation were found between LSPT TP and SqJ and CMJ (r=?0.62 and r=?0.64; P<0.01, respectively). It was determined that Agility-15m, Illinois agility test and Ball-15m were the most effective factors associated with LSPT TP among other factors in multiple regression analysis.

Conclusion:

This study showed that LSPT TP of young elite soccer players is determined by their agility abilities, thus enabling this test to be used for talent identification purposes.

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