Match running performance and skill execution improves with age but not the number of disposals in young Australian footballers

The confounding effect of biological maturity on talent identification and selection within youth Australian football

This study measured the influence of biological maturity across numerous performance parameters for talent identification in Australian football. Anthropometry, estimated maturity status using a maturity ratio from anthropometric measurements and chronological age, motor competence, physical fitness and small-sided match involvements of 227 U13-U15 high-level academy athletes were assessed. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant moderate effects of maturity status on physical fitness (p = 0.008, ES = 0.07) and significant large effects on anthropometry (p = 0.001, ES = 0.20), but not on motor competence or match involvements. Univariate analyses of variance demonstrated significant large effects of maturity on anthropometry, but only one subset of physical fitness (i.e. lower-body power). U15 players selected into a U16 development programme were biologically older thandeselected players, despite selection being independent of maturity when a categorical descriptor was used. This study confirms that maturation affects anthropometry and certain measures of physical fitness in youth Australian football players, but not match involvements and motor competence. Furthermore, a player's maturity could affect selection and progression into advanced academy programmes. Involvements and motor competence should be included in multidimensional assessment batteries for Australian Football as they appear less confounded by maturity than fitness and anthropometry.

Performance Comparisons of Youth Weightlifters as a Function of Age Group and Sex

This study was designed to provide an overview of weightlifting performance as a function of age group and sex and evaluate the potential of countermovement jump height (CMJH) as a tool to gauge performance potential. Data from 130 youth athletes (female, n = 65 & male, n = 65) were used to examine progression of performance (Total and Sinclair total) and the relationship between CMJH and Sinclair total while considering interactions between CMJH and age and/or sex. ANOVAs with post hoc analyses revealed that both totals had a statistical first-order polynomial interaction effect between age group and sex and the difference between age groups of 12-13 and 14-15 years old was statistically greater for male than female. A linear model, developed to examine the relationship, revealed that CMJH and CMJH x sex x age rejected the null hypothesis. Our primary findings are that male youth weightlifters have a higher rate of performance progression, possibly owing to puberty, and CMJH may be a better gauging tool for older male youth weightlifters.

Classification of Players Across the Australian Rules Football Participation Pathway Based on Physical Characteristics

Haycraft, JAZ, Kovalchik, S, Pyne, DB, and Robertson, S. Classification of players across the Australian Rules football participation pathway based on physical characteristics. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-This study investigated the utility of physical fitness and movement ability tests to differentiate and classify players into Australian Football League (AFL) participation pathway levels. Players (n = 293, age 10.9-19.1 years) completed the following tests; 5-m, 10-m, and 20-m sprint, AFL planned agility, vertical jump (VJ), running VJ, 20-m multistage fitness test (MSFT), and athletic ability assessment. A multivariate analysis of variance between AFL participation pathway levels was conducted, and a classification tree determined the extent to which players could be allocated to relevant levels. The magnitude of differences between physical fitness and movement ability were level-dependent, with the largest standardized effect size (ES) between Local U12, Local U14, and older levels for most physical fitness tests (ES: -4.64 to 5.02), except the 5-m and 10-m sprint. The 20-m, 5-m, AFL agility, 20-m MSFT, overhead squat, and running VJ (right) contributed to the classification model, with 57% overall accuracy reported (43% under cross-validation). National U16 players were easiest to classify (87%), while National U18 players were most difficult (0%). Physical fitness tests do not seem to differentiate between players after selection into AFL talent pathway levels. Other attributes (i.e., skill, psychological, and sociocultural) should be prioritized over physical fitness and movement attributes by selectors/coaches when considering selection of talented players.

The Development of a Field-Based Kicking Assessment to Evaluate Australian Football Kicking Proficiency

Purpose: In Australian Football (AF), the ability to proficiently kick the ball is a critical skill and has been shown to be advantageous to a team's successful performance; however, a valid and reliable match referenced kicking assessment remains absent. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable AF kicking proficiency assessment comparative to match play kicking performance. Method: Youth male Australian Football players (n = 251) from different stages within the AF talent pathway were recruited. The developed AFFB-DKA (Australian Football Field-Based-Dynamic Kicking Assessment) considered particular constraints of match play kicking demands such as kick type, distance, delivery, and locomotion of the player receiving the ball. In total, 14 kicks were completed during the test. Validity (i.e., content, logical and construct) and reliability (i.e., test re-test) were assessed. Results: Findings indicate the kicking test can distinguish across and between age (i.e., U14; U16; U18) and skill groups (i.e., club; sub-elite; elite). The timeframe between U14 and U16 was identified as a potential key period where kicking skill acquisition may be most impressionable; however, further research is recommended to support this. Conclusion: The developed AFFB-DKA is the first Australian Football specific kicking assessment to consider and apply match play kicking constraints to make a more representative, valid and reliable assessment.

Validity and reliability of an Australian football small-sided game to assess kicking proficiency

In Australian Football (AF), small sided games have been used extensively as an alternative training method for technical and physical adaptations. Considering their application to AF, it is surprising a valid and reliable small-sided game kicking assessment remains absent. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable 5v6 Australian football small-sided game kicking proficiency assessment. Youth male AF players (n = 145) from different stages within the AF talent pathway were recruited. Validity (i.e., logical and construct) and reliability (i.e., test re-test) were assessed. The largest kicking proficiency difference was between U13 and U16 players and between novice and sub-elite players. Between the ages of U16 and U18 kicking proficiency appears to stabilise. The Australian football small-sided kicking assessment was 97% successful in identifying players as either novice or sub-elite. Larger physical performance (i.e., odometer, m/min-1 and %HIR) outputs were noted between U14 and U18 players and novice and sub-elite players. Collectively, these findings suggest the Australian football small-sided kicking assessment is a valid and reliable AF kicking proficiency assessment tool and may provide worthwhile information to coaches regarding kicking performance along the AFL pathway, to profile player strengths whilst identifying specific areas of improvement.

Biological maturation and match running performance: A national football (soccer) federation perspective

OBJECTIVES

To examine the influence of maturation and its interaction with playing position upon physical match performances in U15 footballers from a national federation.

DESIGN

Observational study.

METHODS

278 male outfield players competing in a national tournament were assessed for somatic maturity and match physical performances according to playing position. Stature, sitting height, and body mass were measured and entered into an algorithm to estimate the age at peak height velocity (APHV). Players match movements were recorded by Global Positioning System devices (10 Hz), to determine peak speed, and total- (TD), low-speed running (LSR; ≤13.0 km h^-1), high-speed running (HSR; 13.1-16.0 km h^-1), very high-speed running (VHSR; 16.1-20.0 km h^-1) and sprint distances (SPR; >20.0 km h^-1) expressed relative to match exposure (m min^-1).

RESULTS

Linear-mixed models using log transformed response variables revealed a significant contribution of estimated APHV upon TD (1.01; 95% CI: 0.99-1.02 m·min^-1; p < 0.001), HSR (1.05; 95% CI: 0.98-1.13 m min^-1; p < 0.001) and VHSR (1.07; 95% CI: 1.00-1.14 m min^-1; p = 0.047). An increase by one year in APHV was associated with an increase of 0.6, 5.4 and 6.9% in TD, HSR and VHSR respectively. No effects of APHV were observed for LSR, SPR, and peak speed. Further, no APHV effects were observed relative to players' field position.

CONCLUSIONS

Later maturing players covered substantially more higher-intensity (HSR and VHSR) running in matches, irrespective of playing position. The greater match intensity of later maturing players may inform talent identification and athletic development processes within a national federation.

Australian Football Skill-Based Assessments: A Proposed Model for Future Research

Identifying sporting talent remains a difficult task due to the complex nature of sport. Technical skill assessments are used throughout the talent pathway to monitor athletes in an attempt to more effectively predict future performance. These assessments, however, largely focus on the isolated execution of key skills devoid of any game context. When assessments are representative of match-play and applied in a setting where all four components of competition (i.e., technical, tactical, physiological, and psychological) are assessed within an integrated approach, prediction of talent is more likely to be successful. This article explores the current talent identification technical skill assessments, with a particular focus on Australian Football, and proposes a 5-level performance assessment model for athlete assessment. The model separates technical game skill on a continuum from Level-1 (i.e., laboratory analysis) to Level-5 (i.e., match-play). These levels, using the assumptions of the expert performance model and representative learning design theory, incorporate a step-wise progression of performance demands to more closely represent match-play conditions. The proposed model will provide researchers and practitioners with a structured framework to consider when assessing, or developing, new assessments of technical game-based skill.

Training and Competition Activity Profiles of Australian Football Field Umpires

Jessiman, SW, Harvey, B, Corrigan, SL, and Gastin, PB. Training and competition activity profiles of Australian football field umpires. J Strength Cond Res 34(10): 2956-2964, 2020-The purpose of this study was to determine the activity profiles of Australian football (AF) field umpires during training and competition, and subsequently assess the specificity to competition of locomotor training sessions. Microtechnology incorporating a 5-Hz (interpolated to 15 Hz) global positioning system sensor tracked the movements of 24 field umpires during matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and fitness and skill-based training sessions before competition. Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests determined whether significant differences existed between single training session and competition paired samples, with Cohen's d effect size and percent differences describing the magnitude of the training-competition differences. Absolute measures of total (d = 5.4; percent difference = 85.8%) and high-speed distance (>14.4 km·h) (1.0; 36.9%), as well as accelerations (3.3; 106.3%) and decelerations (3.2; 107.5%) were significantly greater during competition compared with training (p < 0.001). When standardized for time, high-speed distance (1.4; 52.0%), sprint distance (>23.0 km·h) (0.9; 121.5%), sprint efforts (1.0; 107.4%), and high acceleration (1.1; 114.3%) and deceleration (0.6; 66.7%) events (≥3 m·s) were greater during training (p < 0.001). No difference between training and competition was observed for relative distance. A single training session did not match the volume of work during competition, due primarily to large differences in duration. By contrast, training sessions were higher in intensity, likely to compensate for the shorter duration of training. Further research is required to determine whether the total weekly training load is sufficient to maintain and develop the competition-specific fitness of AF field umpires.

Model characteristics of physical development, physical and technical preparedness of football players 15 years of different roles

The purpose of the work is to develop model characteristics of physical development, physical and technical preparedness of players of 15 years of different playing roles. Material and methods. Participants. In the study, 47 football players took part in 15 years of the Sports School "Areal" in Kharkov. Methods. Analysis of scientific and methodological literature, determination of physical development indicators testing of physical and technical preparedness, methods of mathematical statistics. The course of the study. The results of physical development, physical and technical preparedness of football players for 15 years are fixed. Model characteristics of physical and technical preparedness of young football players are developed. Analyzed comparative characteristics of the physical and technical preparedness of players 15 years of different playing roles. Results. It is established, according to the indicators of the physical development of players, players of different playing roles practically do not differ from each other. It is shown that the goalkeepers have practically the lowest technical and physical readiness indicators practically in all test results, in contrast to the attackers, defenders and midfielders. It is recommended that the development of a program for the development of physical qualities for goalkeepers, as well as the development of a separate program for improving the technical preparedness for players of each playing role. Conclusions. It is fixed, significant differences in the level of physical and technical preparedness between field players and goalkeepers. It is established that the greatest differences between representatives of different playing roles in terms of juggling, holding the ball on the foot, accuracy and range of strikes. It was revealed, not the reliability of the difference between the indicators of physical and technical preparedness of attackers, defenders and midfielders, which indicates their universality, and, therefore, possible replacement of each other.

A multidimensional approach to talent identification and selection in high-level youth Australian Football players

There is limited research in talent identification in youth Australian Football (AF), especially the factors that underpin selection into higher-level development programs. Therefore, this study explored age-related differences in high-level youth AF players and investigated characteristics influencing selection into a high-level development program. Anthropometry (stature, sitting height, body mass), maturity (estimated age at peak height velocity), motor competence (Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder), fitness (change of direction speed, lower body power and upper body muscular endurance) and coach skill ratings (kicking, marking and handballing) of 277 state academy players (U13-U15) were assessed. MANOVAs identified significant age-related differences for anthropometry, fitness, and coach skill ratings. Furthermore, 90.9 and 90.0% of U15 selected and deselected players were classified correctly. Selected players were more mature, taller, heavier, more explosive, faster at changing directions, and had superior kick technique and marking results. These results demonstrate considerable age-group performance outcome differences, highlighting that high-level academies should aim to select or deselect after 15 years of age. Additionally, it appears earlier maturing players are favoured for selection into a high-level academy. While practitioners must consider the confounding effect of maturation, early maturing players may be favoured for their ability to withstand increasing demands in higher-level youth AF.

Physical characteristics of players within the Australian Football League participation pathways: a systematic review

Background

Australian football (AF) players require endurance, strength, speed, and agility to be successful. Tests assessing physical characteristics are commonly used for talent identification; however, their ability to differentiate between players across the Australian Football League’s (AFL) participation pathway remains unclear. The objective of this review was to quantify the physical characteristics of male AF players across the AFL participation pathway.

Methods

A search of databases was undertaken. Studies examining tests of physical performance were included, with 27 meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Study appraisal was conducted using a checklist of selection criteria.

Results

The 20-m sprint time was the most reported test, followed by vertical jump (VJ), AFL planned agility, and 20-m multi-stage fitness test (MSFT). The fastest times for 20-m sprint were for Elite AFL players (range 2.94–3.13 s), with local-level players the slowest (3.22–4.06 s). State Junior Under (U) 18s (58–66 cm) had higher jumps than senior players, with the lowest jumps reported for Local U10s (mean 31 cm). No elite-level data were reported for the AFL planned agility or 20-m MSFT. AFL planned agility times were only reported for talent pathway levels, with large performance variability evident across all levels (8.17–9.12 s). Only mean 20-m MSFT scores were reported from Local U10s to National Draft Camp (6.10–13.50 shuttles).

Conclusions

Talent pathway players exhibit similar mean test scores irrespective of the physical test, with the exception of 20-m sprint and VJ. Physical tests can discriminate between local participation level players but are less useful within the AFL talent pathway.