A Longitudinal Study of Physical Fitness in Elite Junior Tennis Players
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Tamara Kramer1, Barbara C H Huijgen2, Marije T Elferink-Gemser2
11 HAN University of Applied Sciences.
Purpose:
To analyze how physical fitness (PF) improves in elite junior tennis players related to age, maturity, and performance level.
Methods:
Elite junior tennis players (n = 113 boys, n = 83 girls) divided by performance level were monitored longitudinally from U14 to U16. Maturity, upper and lower-body power, speed, and agility were measured during subsequent competitive seasons. Improvement was analyzed per sex using multilevel analysis.
Results:
PF components for boys and girls improved over age (U14-U16) (ES .53-.97). In boys, the more mature boys outscored the less mature boys in upper and lower-body power from U14-U16. In girls, high-ranked girls outscored lower-ranked girls on lower-body power, speed, and agility (U14-U16) (p < .05).
Conclusion:
Boys and girls improved on all PF components during U14-U16. In boys, power was related to maturity. In girls, lower-body power, speed, and agility were related to tennis performance. This has important implications for talent development.
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