Investigation of aerobic and anaerobic performance in male soccer players aged 9 - 18 by age groups

The aim of this study is to examine the aerobic and anaerobic performances of soccer players of different chronological ages and maturity stages. 134 male soccer players who played soccer in the U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U19 categories, including at least 10 athletes in each group, participated in the study. Aerobic endurance of the soccer players was determined by YoYo Intermittent Recovery Test-1 and estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) values were calculated. 30-m sprint test to determine speed performance, Illinois Agility Test to determine agility performance, standing long jump to determine jump performance and 1 minute sit-up and push-up tests were applied for muscle strength and endurance. Maturity status was determined by using the maturity estimation equation with the values obtained from the somatic variables. It was found that aerobic endurance, standing long jump, sprint, agility, sit-up and push-up performances were highly correlated with chronological age and maturity (p<0.0001). All performance variables were found to be highly correlated with each other (p<0.0001). It was observed that aerobic endurance gradually increased with chronological age until the age of 15 (p<0.05), and it did not change significantly in the 15, 16 and 17 age groups, which were within the maturity stages of after the peak height velocity (p>0.05). It has been determined that speed, agility, endurance in strength and jumping performances generally increase continuously with chronological age and maturation (p<0.05). It can be concluded that the aerobic and anaerobic performances of the soccer players aged 9 to 18 who participated in the study increased in relation to both with each other and chronological age and maturation, and that aerobic performance completed its development earlier than anaerobic performance.