Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

10:08
Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
Published on: June 10, 2025
Movement patterns in elite Brazilian youth soccer
N Pereira Da Silva1, D T Kirkendall, T Leite De Barros Neto
1CEMAFE - Center of Studies in Medicine of the Physical Activity and the Sport, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. norbertopereira@uol.com.br
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
|July 21, 2007
Summary
Young soccer players
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Soccer Performance Analysis
Background:
- Understanding the physical demands on young soccer players is crucial for effective training.
- Previous research has not comprehensively detailed motion patterns across different age groups and positions in Brazilian youth soccer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish benchmarks for total distance covered and motion characteristics in young Brazilian soccer players.
- To analyze variations in physical performance based on age category and playing position.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-five players from U15, U17, and U20 age groups were analyzed during competitive matches.
- Video analysis was used to record total distance, jogging, walking, and sprinting distances for players categorized by position.
- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was employed to identify significant differences between age groups and positions.
Main Results:
- The Under-15 (U15) group exhibited significantly higher intensity (118 m/min) compared to U17 and U20 groups.
- Wingers (WG) and midfielders demonstrated greater total distance covered than players in other positions.
- Specific positions like strikers (STK) and offensive midfielders (OMF) showed increased sprinting in younger age categories.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences in running volume and intensity exist between age groups in youth soccer.
- Early player development, targeted physical training, and tactical structuring contribute to higher energy expenditure during matches.
Related Concept Videos
Motion of a Projectile
Projectile motion becomes evident when a player kicks the ball into the air. The launch angle, or the angle at which the ball is kicked, plays a crucial role in determining the trajectory of the projectile. As the ball soars through the air, influenced solely by gravity, its motion can be dissected into two independent velocity components: the horizontal and the vertical.
Horizontal motion, governed by the initial kick, maintains a constant velocity throughout the flight of the soccer ball.
Horizontal motion, governed by the initial kick, maintains a constant velocity throughout the flight of the soccer ball.
Hierarchy of Motor Control
The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.
Social Facilitation
Not all intergroup interactions lead to negative outcomes. Sometimes, being in a group situation can improve performance. Social facilitation occurs when an individual performs better when an audience is watching than when the individual performs the behavior alone. This typically occurs when people are performing a task for which they are skilled.
Projectile Motion
Projectile motion models the flight of an object launched into the air, such as a soccer ball kicked during a penalty, under the simplifying assumption that air resistance is negligible. When gravity is the only force, the object experiences a steady downward acceleration at all times. This single fact explains why projectile motion can be analyzed as two independent motions happening simultaneously: a horizontal motion that does not speed up or slow down, and a vertical motion that continually...
Muscle Coordination and Action
Muscle coordination is a complex and finely tuned process essential for smooth and purposeful movements like flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, and rotation. The human body orchestrates the actions of various muscles working in concert, each with a specific role. Four functional types describe how muscles work together: agonist, antagonist, synergist, and fixator.
Agonists
Agonist muscles, often called prime movers, are the primary muscles responsible for producing a specific movement.
Agonists
Agonist muscles, often called prime movers, are the primary muscles responsible for producing a specific movement.
Fixed Action Patterns
A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
