Walker, Diego Constantino Reed (2025) Bridging the Gap Between Youth and Senior Football. Masters thesis, York St John University.
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Abstract
The purpose of this research is to examine the differences in youth and senior football locomotor demands and the neuromuscular fatigue both groups experience. Previous research has examined locomotor demands and neuromuscular fatigue in senior and youth athletes, but research comparing the resulting neuromuscular fatigue from match play between youth and senior athletes is a novel research topic. A longitudinal, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was employed over 10 weeks. Participants were recruited from one professional football club between its senior and youth team. Data were analyzed with between group analyses of variance (ANOVA), independent t-tests, and linear mixed models. Results showed significant differences between groups across locomotor and neuromuscular fatigue metrics. The main locomotor differences were that senior players performed more high-intensity accelerations (ES=1.31, p=0.2). 48 hours post-match, senior players demonstrated significant neuromuscular fatigue, characterized by reduced jump height (cm)(ES=-1.4, p0.35). Lastly, the number of decelerations and accelerations performed had a negative moderating effect on jump height (cm) but not contraction time (ms) at 48 hours post-match for senior players (DEC/JH: p0.39). Implications for practice are that senior match play entails more intense actions and greater neuromuscular fatigue. Therefore, youth players must be adequately prepared physically for the transition to senior football.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV0557 Sports G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV0861-1017 Ball games: football, etc. |
| School/Department: | School of Science, Technology and Health |
| URI: | https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/13075 |
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