"Biological maturity and the anthropometric physical and technical assessment of talent identified U16 Australian footballers" by Ashley Cripps

Article

Biological maturity and the anthropometric physical and technical assessment of talent identified U16 Australian footballers

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching (2016)

Ashley Cripps, The University of Notre Dame Australia
Dr Christopher Joyce, The University of Notre Dame Australia
Dr Carl Woods, James Cook University Australia
Dr Luke Hopper, Edith Cowan University

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Abstract

This study compared biological maturation, anthropometric, physical and technical skill measures between talent and non-talent identified junior Australian footballers. Players were recruited from the under 16 Western Australian Football League and classified as talent (state representation; n = 25, 15.7 ± 0.3 y) or non-talent identified (non-state representation; n=25, 15.6 ± 0.4 y). Players completed a battery of anthropometric, physical and technical skill assessments. Maturity was estimated using years from peak height velocity calculations. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the variables demonstrating the strongest association with the main effect of ‘status’. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the level of discrimination provided by the strongest model. Talent identified under 16 players were biologically older, had greater stationary and dynamic leaps and superior handball skill when compared to their non-talent identified counterparts. The strongest model of status included standing height, non-dominant dynamic vertical jump and handball outcomes (AUC = 83.4%, CI = 72.1%-95.1%). Biological maturation influences anthropometric and physical capacities that are advantageous for performance in Australian football, talent identification methods should factor biological maturation as a confound in the search for junior players who are most likely to succeed in senior competition.

Keywords

Talent Identification,
Adolescent,
development,
team sport

Disciplines

Sports Sciences

Publication Date

Winter July 1, 2016

Citation Information

Ashley Cripps, Christopher Joyce, Carl Woods and Luke Hopper. "Biological maturity and the anthropometric physical and technical assessment of talent identified U16 Australian footballers" International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching (2016)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/chris-joyce/22/