Comparison of sprinting speed among U15 soccer players

Patrick Pfeiffer has a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Physical Education in the area of Kineanthropometry and Human Performance (UPE/UFPB). He is currently a professor of Higher Education, and in soccer, he has been a coach for children and adolescents, as well as a physical trainer with a specific focus on soccer.

Speed in soccer is a physical characteristic of fundamental importance for any player. The aim of this study was to compare speed scores between U15 soccer players with different tactical roles (positioning). Studies on players' speed capacity are usually focused on older players. Therefore, there is still little knowledge available on the factors that influence the abilities of young players. Based on this information, it is possible to detect the specific needs of this segment in order to improve the speed training methodology for players in soccer teams. The players selected underwent a 50-meter speed test, in which they had to run a horizontal race at maximum speed. Their body mass and height were also measured. With the results analyzed, it can be concluded that the performance of high-speed sprints in soccer varies little between the different positions and does not seem to be influenced by body mass and height values in U-15 athletes.