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Reliability and stability of anthropometric and

performance measures in highly-trained young soccer
players: effect of age and maturation
a a
Martin Buchheit & Alberto Mendez-Villanueva
a
Aspire, Academy for Sports Excellence, Football Performance and Science Department ,
Doha , Qatar
Published online: 08 May 2013.

To cite this article: Martin Buchheit & Alberto Mendez-Villanueva (2013): Reliability and stability of anthropometric and
performance measures in highly-trained young soccer players: effect of age and maturation, Journal of Sports Sciences,
DOI:10.1080/02640414.2013.781662

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 Journal of Sports Sciences, 2013
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2013.781662

Reliability and stability of anthropometric and performance measures

in highly-trained young soccer players: effect of age and maturation

MARTIN BUCHHEIT & ALBERTO MENDEZ-VILLANUEVA

Aspire, Academy for Sports Excellence, Football Performance and Science Department, Doha, Qatar

(Accepted 27 February 2013)

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess both short-term reliability and long-term stability of anthropometric and physical
performance measures in highly-trained young soccer players in relation to age and maturation. Data were collected on 80
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 04:38 12 May 2013

players from an academy (U13–U18, pre- (n = 14), circum- (n = 32) and post- (n = 34) estimated peak height velocity,
PHV). For the reliability analysis, anthropometric and performance tests were repeated twice within a month. For the
stability analysis, these tests were repeated 12 times over a 4-year period in 10 players. Absolute reliability was assessed with
the typical error of measurement, expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV). Relative reliability and long-term stability
were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). There was no clear age or maturation effect on either the
CVs or ICCs: e.g., Post-PHV vs. Pre-PHV: effect size = –0.37 (90% confidence limits (CL):-1.6;0.9), with chances of
greater/similar/lower values of 20/20/60%. For the long-term stability analysis, ICCs varied from 0.66 (0.50;0.80) to 0.96
(0.93;0.98) for 10-m sprint time and body mass, respectively. The short-term reliability of anthropometry and physical
performance measures is unlikely to be affected by age or maturation. However, some of these measures are unstable
throughout adolescence, which questions their usefulness in a talent identification perspective.

Keywords: variability, peak height velocity, adolescence, maximal sprinting speed, maximal aerobic speed

Introduction also important in developing soccer players to

assess maturation timing (Philippaerts, et al.,
Anthropometric measures and physical performance
2006), training effectiveness (Buchheit, Mendez-
tests are regularly performed in soccer academies,
Villanueva, Delhomel, Brughelli, & Ahmaidi, 2010;
both for aiding selection/detection (Reilly, Williams,
Buchheit, Simpson, Al Haddad, et al., 2012; Mujika,
Nevill, & Franks, 2000; Vaeyens et al., 2006) and
Santisteban, & Castagna, 2009) and eventually
training monitoring purposes (Buchheit, Simpson, Al
adapt/modify training contents in relation to matura-
Haddad, Bourdon, & Mendez-Villanueva, 2012).
tion status (Ford et al., 2011).
The great majority of test batteries used for talent
In addition to accuracy, the short-term reliability
identification in soccer include, among others, mea-
of any measurement (i.e., the consistency of a parti-
sures of height, body mass, sprinting speed and car-
cular measure when repeated on different occasions
diorespiratory fitness (Reilly et al., 2000; Vaeyens
in similar conditions) is of great importance for prac-
et al., 2006). Adolescent players who possess the
titioners and researchers to avoid biased interpreta-
required characteristics to make the elite adult level
tion when both assessing changes in a marker
may not necessarily retain these attributes throughout
(absolute reliability, monitoring purpose) (Hopkins,
growth and maturation (Vaeyens, Lenoir, Williams,
2000) and/or ranking individuals (relative reliability,
& Philippaerts, 2008). However, evidences arising
selection/identification purpose) (Weir, 2005). While
from non-experimental studies suggest that some
the time course of the changes in anthropometric
anthropometric traits and physical capacities might
and physical performance measures throughout ado-
be important in determining whether already selected
lescence has now been documented in developing
elite young soccer players are successful or not in
soccer players (Philippaerts et al., 2006; Spencer,
acceding to higher standards of play (le Gall,
Pyne, Santisteban, & Mujika, 2011; Williams,
Carling, Williams, & Reilly, 2010). Monitoring
Oliver, & Faulkner, 2011), whether maturity status
changes in body dimensions and physical perfor-
affects the short-term reliability of these measures
mance throughout the training/competitive year is
has not been investigated yet. Because of the limited

Correspondence: M. Buchheit, Aspire, Academy for Sports Excellence, Sport Science Department, Doha, Qatar. E-mail: martin.buchheit@aspire.qa

© 2013 Taylor & Francis

 2 M. Buchheit & A. Mendez-Villanueva
experience of the younger and/or pre-pubertal
players in the different testing protocols (familiarisa-
tion), reliability could be worse for these groups. The
disruption of motor coordination (“adolescent awk-
wardness”) generally observed before the age at peak
height velocity (APHV) (Beunen & Malina, 1988)
might also be associated with a poorer reliability of
physical performance measures.
Together with short-term reliability, the long-term
stability of these measures throughout consecutive
years (Abbott & Collins, 2002) refers to the consis-
tency of the position or rank of individuals in the
group relative to others, and influences directly the
level of confidence with which the physical potential
of a talented young player can be predicted to his late
adolescence/early adulthood (Vaeyens et al., 2008).
This has obvious implications in elite soccer given
the economical stakes associated with players’
recruitment in the elite academies. Long-term stabi-
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lity is generally examined via correlation coefficients
(Abbott & Collins, 2002) or the intraclass correlation
coefficient (ICC), with ICC values > 0.70 generally
considered as reflecting high stability. To date,
research on the long-term stability of anthropometric
and physical performance measures in young soccer
players is very limited, and data on the general popu-
lation have been inconclusive. For example, while
the long-term stability of performance measures
was shown to be moderate (Maia et al., 2003) to
good (Maia et al., 2001) throughout adolescence by
some authors, others reported a poor stability of
such measures (i.e., most of the correlation coeffi-
cients between the test-retest values were lower than
0.70) (Abbott & Collins, 2002). The adolescents
examined in these latter studies were however either
sedentary or only involved in a generic sport pro-
gramme, so results can obviously not be compared
to a specific population of highly-trained soccer
players. Additionally, the tests batteries included
generic physical test measures (e.g., isometric
strength, muscle trunk endurance), and not those
typically employed in soccer academies (e.g., 10-m
sprint time, maximal sprinting speed).
The first aim of the present study was therefore to
assess the short-term (absolute and relative, Weir,
2005) reliability of anthropometric and physical per-
formance measures in highly-trained soccer in rela-
tion to age and maturation. Because of the combined
effect of testing experience and maturation on these
measures, we expected that the level of reliability
would improve with age/maturity status. The second
objective was to further examine, in a selected num-
ber of outfield players, the long-term stability of
anthropometric and physical performance measures
over a 4-year training/competitive period. Since
maturity timing and, in turn, physical performance,
may differ between players of the same age within
the same team (Figueiredo, Coelho, Cumming, &
Malina, 2010), we expected to observe a poor long-
term stability of the measures when comparing a
player to his team-mates.
Methods
Participants
Data were collected in 80 highly-trained young foot-
ball players (14.5 ± 1.5 years) from an elite soccer
academy (from Under 13 (U13) to U18). All the
players, irrespective of age groups, participated on
average in ~14 hours of combined soccer-specific
training and competitive play per week (6–8 soccer
training sessions, 1 strength training session, 1–2 con-
ditioning sessions, 1 domestic game per week and 2
international club games every 3 weeks). All players
had a minimum of 3 years prior soccer-specific train-
ing. Written informed consent was obtained from the
players and their parents. The study was approved by
the local research ethics committee and conformed to
the recommendations of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Study overview
Testing was conducted on the same indoor synthetic
track which allowed the maintenance of standardised
environmental conditions (22.0 ± 0.5°C, 55% relative
humidity). Training contents and load during the two-
to-three weeks preceding the testing sessions were well
standardised, similar before each testing period and
comparable for each team. For the short-term reliability
analyses, anthropometric and performance tests were
repeated twice within a month during the competitive
season (during “standardised” weeks). For the long-
term stability analysis, we used data from 10 players
belonging to the same team, which were tested 3 times
per year (every 4 months) with the same testing battery
over a 4-year period (total = 11 testing sessions). All
players were familiar with the physical tests, which
included: standing and seating height, body mass
(BM), the sum of 7 skinfolds, counter movement jump
(CMJ), 10-m sprint time, maximal sprinting speed and
peak incremental test speed (used as an indirect measure
of maximal aerobic speed). Anthropometric measures
were taken in the morning before breakfast. The incre-
mental test was performed during a morning training
session (8 AM), while the CMJ and speed tests were
performed during an afternoon session (3 PM). Testing
sessions were at least 24 h apart.
Anthropometric measures and maturity status
determination
All anthropometric measures were taken in the
morning by the same experienced anthropometrist
 Reliability and stability of test measures in youth soccer 3

(International Standards for Anthropometric
Assessment, ISAK Level 3). Dimensions included
stretch stature, sitting height, BM, and sum of
seven skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, biceps, supras-
pinale, abdominal, front thigh, and medial calf).
Stretch stature was measured using a wall-mounted
stadiometer (± 0.1 cm, Holtain Ltd., Crosswell,
UK), sitting height with a stadiometer mounted on
a purpose-built table (± 0.1 cm, Holtain Ltd.,
Crosswell, UK), body mass with a digital balance
(± 0.1 kg, ADE Electronic Column Scales,
Hamburg, Germany), and skinfold thicknesses with
a Harpenden skinfold caliper (± 0.1 mm, Baty
International, Burgess Hill, UK). Landmarks for
each skinfold measurement were in accordance
with previously described procedures (Marfell-
Jones, Olds, Stewart, & Carter, 2006) with all skin-
fold measurements taken on the right side of the
body. The age at peak height velocity (PHV) was
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skeletal age (SA) (estimated from a hand and wrist
radiograph; Gilsanz–Ratib’s bone age atlas (Gilsanz
& Ratib, 2005)). The average estimate of APHV was
14.3 ± 0.7 years for the present study population.
For analysis, players were then either grouped as
U14 (n = 35), U16 (n = 30) or U18 (n = 15), or
allocated to either Pre- (< –1 year from APHV,
n = 14), Circum- (≥ –1 year from/to APHV ≤ 1,
n = 32) or Post- (< –1 year to APHV, n = 34)
PHV groups, based on their estimated APHV during
the first testing session (Table I).
Speed tests
All players performed two maximal 40-m sprints
during which 10-m split times were recorded using
dual-beam electronic timing gates (Swift
Performance Equipment, Lismore, Australia).
Acceleration capacity was inferred from the first

used as a relative indicator of somatic maturity
representing the time of maximum growth in stature
during adolescence as described by Mirwald, Baxter-
Jones, Bailey, and Beunen (2002). Ethnicity of the
players was Arab (Middle Eastern; considered as
“white” on the Census forms, as the Canadian ado-
lescents who served to determine the initial regres-
sions to estimate age at PHV (Mirwald et al., 2002)).
The effect of ethnicity on the validity of biological
maturity estimates using the procedures described
above is presently unknown; the equation was there-
fore assumed to be valid for the present sample
(Buchheit, Mendez-Villanueva, Simpson, &
Bourdon, 2010; Mendez-Villanueva et al., 2010).
Data derived from a sample of 90 young soccer
players (age range: 12.1–17.3 years) in our academy
showed that age from/to PHV is well correlated
(r = 0.69 (90% confidence limits: 0.59;0.77) with
10-m split (s). Maximal sprinting speed (km · h−1)
was defined as the fastest 10-m split time measured
during each 40-m sprint (Buchheit, Simpson,
Peltola, & Mendez-Villanueva, 2012). Split times
were measured to the nearest 0.01 s. Players com-
menced each sprint from a standing start with their
front foot 0.5 m behind the first timing gate and
were instructed to sprint as fast as possible over the
full 40 m. The players started when ready, thus
eliminating reaction time. Each trial was separated
by at least 60 s of recovery with the best performance
used as the final result.
Lower limb explosive strength
A vertical countermovement jump (CMJ, cm) with
flight time measured with a force plate (Kistler
9286AA, Kistler Instrument Corp., Winterthur,

Table I. Anthropometric and physical performance measures in highly-trained soccer players in relation to estimated peak age velocity.

Maximal Peak
Sum of 7 sprinting incremental
Age APHV Height Body mass skinfolds 10-m speed test speed
n (years) (years) (cm) (kg) (mm) sprint (s) (km · h−1) CMJ (cm) (km · h−1)

U14 35 13.2 ± 0.6 −0.9 ± 0.7 155.9 ± 7.3 43.9 ± 8.1 51.8 ± 22.3 1.89 ± 0.09 26.8 ± 2.1 33.0 ± 4.5 15.5 ± 1.1
(14/15/6)*
U16 30 15.0 ± 0.6 0.6 ± 1.0 165.4 ± 9.0 52.9 ± 10.1 46.9 ± 9.9 1.81 ± 0.09 29.4 ± 2.1 39.6 ± 5.1 16.3 ± 0.9
(0/16/14)*
U18 15 16.9 ± 0.6 2.0 ± 0.6 170.8 ± 7.5 61.4 ± 9.8 42.9 ± 5.6 1.71 ± 0.05 31.5 ± 1.2 47.2 ± 6.1 16.9 ± 1.1
(0/1/14)*

Pre-PHV 14 12.8 ± 0.6 −1.5 ± 0.3 150.7 ± 5.4 38.5 ± 3.5 48.6 ± 12.6 1.92 ± 0.05 25.6 ± 1.3 29.6 ± 3.7 15.1 ± 0.6
Circum-PHV 32 14.2 ± 0.8 −0.2 ± 0.6 160.6 ± 6.1 48.1 ± 7.5 49.0 ± 20.8 1.85 ± 0.10 28.1 ± 2.0 37.4 ± 4.7 16.0 ± 1.0
Post-PHV 34 15.6 ± 1.5 1.8 ± 0.5 172.2 ± 6.5 61.8 ± 8.4 47.2 ± 10.0 1.76 ± 0.08 30.7 ± 2.0 42.8 ± 7.1 16.6 ± 1.0

Anthropometric measures, estimated age from/to peak height velocity (APHV), 10-m sprint time, maximal sprinting speed, counter
movement jump (CMJ) and peak incremental test speed in young soccer players, with data analysed in relation to age groups (Under 14
(U14), Under 16 (U16) or Under 18 (U18)) and maturity status (pre- (Pre-PHV), circum- (Circum-PHV) or post- (Post-PHV) estimated
peak height velocity young soccer players). *Numbers in brackets stand for n Pre-, Circum- or Post-PHV players per age group.
 4 M. Buchheit & A. Mendez-Villanueva
Switzerland) to calculate jump height was used to
assess lower limb explosive strength. Players were
instructed to keep their hands on their hips with
the depth of the counter movement self-selected.
Each trial was validated by visual inspection to
ensure each landing was without significant leg flex-
ion. At least three valid CMJ’s were performed sepa-
rated by 25 s of passive recovery, with the best
performance recorded.
Incremental field running test
A modified version of the University of Montreal
Track Test (Leger & Boucher, 1980) (i.e., Vam-
Eval) was used to approach maximal aerobic speed
(Buchheit, Mendez-Villanueva, Simpson, et al.,
2010). The test began with an initial running
speed of 8.5 km · h−1 with consecutive speed
increases of 0.5 km · h−1 each minute until exhaus-
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tion. The players adjusted their running speed
according to auditory signals timed to match 20-m
intervals delineated by marker cones around a
200-m long indoor athletics track. The test ended
when the players failed on two consecutive occa-
sions to reach the next cone in the required time.
The average velocity of the last stage completed was
recorded as the players’ peak incremental test speed
(km · h−1). If the last stage was not fully completed,
the peak incremental test speed was calculated as
peak incremental test speed = S + (t/60 × 0.5),
where S is the last completed stage speed in
km · h−1 and t is the time in seconds of the uncom-
pleted stage.
Statistical analysis
Data in the text and figures are presented as means
with 90% confidence limits (CL) and intervals (CI),
respectively. All data were first log-transformed to
reduce bias arising from non-uniformity error. The
short-term reliability of each anthropometric and phy-
sical performance measure was assessed while calcu-
lating both the typical error of measurement (TE,
absolute reliability), expressed as a coefficient of varia-
tion (CV, 90% CL) (Hopkins, 2000) and the intra-
class correlation coefficient (ICC, 90% CL, relative
reliability) (Weir, 2005) with a specifically-designed
spreadsheet (Hopkins, 2012). The TEs as calculated
by Hopkins are of great interest for the present study
design since it is insensitive to the change in the mean
between the successive trials. The long-term stability
of players’ anthropometric and performance measures
throughout the 4-year period was also assessed with an
ICC. When a player missed a testing session, the
individual rankings of the remaining players were
rescaled to a 10-point scale (i.e., rescaled
rank = rank × 10/n player tested). Possible differences
in short-term reliability between the different maturity
and age groups were analysed for practical significance
while comparing the average CV and ICC obtained
from the 8 measures in each group (Fourchet,
Materne, Horobeanu, Hudacek, & Buchheit, 2012),
using magnitude-based inferences (Hopkins,
Marshall, Batterham, & Hanin, 2009). Standardised
differences or effect sizes (90% confidence interval)
for CVs and ICCs were calculated, and the threshold
values for Cohen effect size (ES) statistics were > 0.2
(small), > 0.6 (moderate), and > 1.2 (large) (Hopkins
et al., 2009). The magnitude of the ICC was assessed
using the following thresholds: > 0.99, extremely high;
0.99–0.90, very high; 0.90–0.75, high; 0.75–0.50,
moderate; 0.50–0.20, low; < 0.20, very low (WG
Hopkins, unpublished observations). Probabilities
were also calculated to establish whether the true
(unknown) differences were lower, similar or higher
than the smallest worthwhile difference or change (0.2
multiplied by the between-subject standard deviation,
based on Cohen’s effect size principle). Quantitative
chances of higher or lower differences were evaluated
qualitatively as follows: <1%, almost certainly not; 1
−5%, very unlikely; 5−25%, unlikely; 25−75%, possi-
ble; 75−95%, likely; 95−99%, very likely; >99%,
almost certain. If the chance of substantially higher
or lower values were both >5%, the true difference
was assessed as unclear. Otherwise, we interpreted
that change as the observed chance (Hopkins et al.,
2009).
Results
Short-term reliability
The different reliability variables for anthropometric
and performance measures are presented in Tables II
and III for players grouped by age and estimated
maturity status, respectively. When comparing the
different CVs obtained for each age group, there was
no clear difference in CVs: U16 vs. U14: effect size
(ES) = –0.14 (–0.9;0.7), with chances of greater/simi-
lar/lower values of 24/31/45%, U18 vs. U14:
ES = –0.21 (–1.0;0.6), 20/29/51% and U18 vs. U16:
ES = –0.09 (–0.9;0.8), 28/32/41%. There was also no
clear differences between the ICCs: U16 vs. U14:
ES = 0.36 (–0.5;1.2), 63/24/13%, U18 vs. U14:
ES = –0.01 (–0.8;0.8), 33/32/35% and U18 vs. U16:
ES = –0.30 (–1.1;0.5), 15/26/58%. Similarly, there
was no clear difference in the CVs obtained for each
maturity group: Post-PHV vs. Pre-PHV: ES = –0.37
(–1.6;0.9), 20/20/60%, Post-PHV vs. Circum-PHV:
ES = –0.01 (–0.9;0.8), 33/32/35% and Circum-PHV
vs. Pre-PHV: ES = –0.27 (–1.5;1.0), 24/22/54%.
Finally, all between-group comparisons for ICCs
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Table II. Reliability of anthropometric and physical performance measures over a month in the different age groups.

Sum of 7 Maximal sprinting Peak incremental

Height (cm) Body mass (kg) skinfolds (mm) APHV (years) 10-m sprint (s) speed (km · h−1) CMJ (cm) test speed (km · h−1)

U14 (n = 35) Pairwise 6 6 6 6 26 23 23 30

comparisons
Mean change 2.0 (1.8;2.1) 1.6 (0.9;2.3) −0.1 (–6.5;6.2) 0.0 (–0.1;0.1) −0.01 (–0.03;0.06) 0.3 (0.1;0.6) 0.9 (0.2;1.5) 0.0 (–0.3;0.2)
CV% (90%CL) 0.1 (0.1;0.2) 1.8 (1.2;3.8) 8.5 (5.6;18.5) 0.6 (0.4;1.4) 2.3 (1.9;3.1) 1.9 (1.5;2.5) 4.4 (3.5;5.9) 4.1 (3.4;5.3)
ICC 1.0 (0.99;1.00) 0.99 (0.92;1.00) 0.92 (0.57;0.98) 0.97 (0.83;1.00) 0.68 (0.42;0.83) 0.92 (0.83;0.96) 0.89 (0.79;0.95) 0.69 (0.48;0.82)
U16 (n = 30) Pairwise 19 19 20 19 28 28 28 25
comparisons
Mean change 1.0 (0.7;1.3) 1.3 (0.9;1.6) 0.2 (–0.9;1.2) −0.0 (–0.1;0.1) −0.01 (–0.02;0.01) 0.4 (0.2;0.5) 1.4 (0.6;2.2) 0.1 (–0.1;0.3)
CV% (90%CL) 0.3 (0.3;0.5) 0.9 (0.7;1.3) 4.0 (3.2;5.6) 0.6 (0.5;0.8) 2.0 (1.6;2.8) 1.1 (0.9;1.4) 4.9 (4.0;6.4) 2.4 (2.0;3.2)
ICC 0.99 (0.98;1.00) 1.00 (0.99;1.00) 0.93 (0.86;0.97) 0.98 (0.96;0.99) 0.82 (0.67;0.90) 0.97 (0.95;0.99) 0.86 (0.74;0.93) 0.81 (0.65;0.90)
U18 (n = 15) Pairwise 10 10 10 10 14 14 14 10
comparisons
Mean change 0.5 (0.1;0.8) 0.5 (0.3;0.8) −2.1 (–3.5;0.8) 0.1 (0.0;0.2) −0.01 (–0.04;0.02) 0.3 (0.0;0.5) 3.2 (2.3;4.1) 0.5 (0.1;1.0)
CV% (90%CL) 0.3 (0.2;0.4) 0.5 (0.4;0.8) 3.3 (2.4;5.6) 0.6 (0.4;0.9) 2.4 (1.8;3.5) 1.1 (0.8;1.6) 3.3 (2.5;4.9) 3.2 (2.4;5.4)
ICC 1.00 (0.99;1.00) 1.00 (0.99;1.00) 0.95 (0.83;0.99) 0.98 (0.94;1.00) 0.57 (0.16;0.82) 0.92 (0.80;0.97) 0.95 (0.87;0.98) 0.72 (0.27;0.91)
All players Pairwise 35 35 36 35 65 65 63 65
pooled comparisons
Together Mean change 1.0 (0.8;1.3) 1.0 (0.9;1.3) −0.5 (–1.6;0.6) 0.0 (–0.0;0.1) −0.01 (0.02;0.00) 0.3 (0.22;0.44) 1.4 (0.9;19) 0.1 (0.1;0.3)
(n = 80) CV% (90%CL) 0.4 (0.3;0.5) 1.4 (1.2;1.8) 4.9 (4.1;6.2) 0.6 (0.5;0.8) 2.2 (1.9;2.5) 1.4 (1.2;1.6) 4.5 (3.9;5.3) 3.5 (3.0;4.1)
ICC 1.00 (0.99;1.00) 1.00 (0.99;1.00) 0.93 (0.88;0.96) 0.98 (0.97;0.99) 0.87 (0.80;0.91) 0.98 (0.96;0.98) 0.95 (0.92;0.96) 0.77 (0.67;0.84)

Reproducibility variables (coefficient of variation, CV and intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC) for anthropometric measures, estimated age at peak height velocity (APHV), 10-m sprint time,
maximal sprinting speed, counter movement jump (CMJ) and peak incremental test speed in Under 14 (U14), Under 16 (U16) or Under 18 (U18) young soccer players.
Reliability and stability of test measures in youth soccer
5
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Table III. Reliability of anthropometric and physical performance measures over a month in the different maturity groups.

Peak incremental
Sum of 7 Maximal sprinting test speed
Height (cm) Body mass (kg) skinfolds (mm) APHV (years) 10-m sprint (s) speed (km · h−1) CMJ (cm) (km · h−1)
M. Buchheit & A. Mendez-Villanueva

Pre-PHV Pairwise N/A 10 10 10 13

players (n = 14) comparisons
Mean change −0.02 (–0.05;0.02) −0.1 (–0.4;0.2) 0.6 (–0.4;1.6) 0.2 (–0.3;0.8)
CV% (90%CL) 2.2 (1.6;3.6) 1.6 (1.2;2.6) 4.6 (3.3;7.7) 5.1 (3.9;7.9)
ICC 0.48 (–0.1;0.81) 0.90 (0.70;0.97) 0.88 (0.63;0.96) 0.44 (0.0;0.76)
Circum-PHV Pairwise comparisons 16 16 16 16 26 26 26 31
players (n = 32) Mean change 1.5 (0.8;1.3) 1.4 (1.2;1.7) −1.1 (–2.5;0.2) 0.0 (–0.1;0.1) −0.01 (–0.03;0.01) 0.5 (0.3;0.6) 1.3 (0.5;2.1) 0.1 (0.1;0.3)
CV% (90%CL) 0.3 (0.3;0.5) 0.9 (0.7;1.3) 3.8 (2.9;5.5) 0.7 (0.5;1.0) 2.2 (1.8;2.9) 1.4 (1.1;1.8) 4.9 (4.0;6.4) 2.8 (2.3;3.6)
ICC 0.99 (0.98;1.00) 1.00 (0.99;1.00) 0.96 (0.91;0.99) 0.97 (0.94;0.99) 0.76 (0.57;0.87) 0.96 (0.92;0.98) 0.86 (0.74;0.93) 0.85 (0.73;0.91)
Post-PHV Pairwise comparisons 17 17 18 17 29 29 27 21
players (n = 34) Mean change 0.5 (0.3;1.8) 0.7 (0.3;1.0) −0.8 (–2.1;0.5) 0.0 (–0.0;0.1) 0.01 (–0.01;0.02) 0.4 (0.2;0.5) 1.8 (1.2;2.4) 0.3 (0.0;0.6)
CV% (90%CL) 0.3 (0.2;0.4) 1.0 (0.8;1.5) 4.7 (3.6;6.6) 0.6 (0.5;0.9) 2.2 (1.8;2.8) 1.2 (1.0;1.5) 4.1 (3.3;5.2) 3.0 (2.4;4.0)
ICC 1.00 (0.99;1.00) 0.99 (0.98;1.00) 0.91 (0.79;0.96) 0.98 (0.95;0.99) 0.77 (0.60;0.87) 0.97 (0.94;0.98) 0.94 (0.89;0.97) 0.73 (0.40;0.86)

Reproducibility variables (coefficient of variation, CV and intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC) for anthropometric measures, estimated age at peak height velocity (APHV), 10-m sprint time,
maximal sprinting speed, counter movement jump (CMJ) and peak incremental test speed in pre- (Pre-PHV), circum- (Circum-PHV) or post- (Post-PHV) estimated peak height velocity young
soccer players. Note that reliability data from Pre-PHV players are not provided due to insufficient sample size (i.e., < 5).
 Reliability and stability of test measures in youth soccer 7

were unclear : Post-PHV vs. Pre-PHV: ES = 0.76 Discussion

(–0.6;2.1), 81/10/9%, Post-PHV vs. Circum-PHV:
In this study, we examined for the first time short-term
ES = –0.07 (–1.2;1.1), 34/25/42% and Circum-
(absolute and relative) reliability of anthropometric and
PHV vs. Pre-PHV: ES = 0.79 (–0.5;2.0), 82/10/8%.
physical performance measures in relation to age and
maturation in highly-trained young soccer players, as
well as their long-term stability over a 4-year period.
Long-term stability
The main findings of the present study were: 1) when
A selection of individual changes in 10-m sprint, comparing the different CVs and ICCs obtained for each
maximal sprint speed, CMJ and peak incremental group, there was no clear age or maturity effect, 2) over-
test speed over the 4-year period is illustrated in all, all CV values for anthropometric and physical per-
Figure 1; there were some evident differences in formance measures were low (e.g., 0.4% for height,
the changes in performance in players presenting 2.2% for 10-m sprint time and 3.5% for peak incremen-
similar anthropometric and performance profiles at tal test speed) and similar to those previously observed in
the start of the follow up period (i.e., U13 category). older/less trained populations, 3) we observed large
Figure 2 (individual ranks) and Table IV (team inter-individual differences in the change in physical
values) show the stability in the selected anthropo- performances over the 4-year period in players present-
metric and performance measures over the 4-year ing similar anthropometric and performance profiles at
period. The level of stability over the 4-year period the age of 12, i.e., for the 10 players selected for long-
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 04:38 12 May 2013

was measure-dependent, and was rated as moderate itudinal analysis, the ICC varied from 0.66 (0.50;0.80)
for skinfolds, 10-m sprint, CMJ and maximal sprint to 0.96 (0.93;0.98) for 10-m sprint time and BM,
speed, high for peak incremental test speed and very respectively, suggesting varying levels of long-term sta-
high for height, BM and APHV. bility as a function of the measure considered.

2.05 34
148 cm / 36 kg
2.00 –1.5 yr from PHV
137 cm / 28 kg
MSS: 25 km/h
Vvam-Eval: 15 km/h –2.5 yr from PHV 32
1.95 Vvam-Eval: 15 km/h
10-m sprint (s)

MSS (km.h–1)
1.90 30
148 cm / 36 kg
–1.5 yr from PHV
1.85 147 cm / 32 kg Vvam-Eval: 15 km/h
–2 yr from PHV
MSS 25.5 km/h 28
1.80 Vvam-Eval: 14.5 km/h
147 cm / 32 kg
–2 yr from PHV
1.75 Vvam-Eval: 14.5 km/h
137 cm / 28 kg 26
–2.5 yr from PHV
1.70 Vvam-Eval: 15 km/h

1.65 24
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

48 Age (years) Age (years) 20

46 140 cm / 33 kg
–2.5 yr from PHV 19
44 148 cm / 36 kg MSS: 25 km/h
–1.5 yr from PHV
42 MSS: 25 km/h
18
VVam-Eval (km.h–1)

Vvam-Eval: 15 km/h
40
CMJ (cm)

38 17

36
147 cm / 32 kg 16
34 –2 yr from PHV
MSS 25.5 km/h
32 15
147 cm / 32 kg 148 cm / 36 kg
30 –2 yr from PHV 146 cm / 34 kg –1.5 yr from PHV
MSS 25.5 km/h –2.5 yr from PHV MSS: 25 km/h 14
28 Vvam-Eval: 14.5 km/h MSS: 23 km/h

26 13
12 13 14 15 16 17 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Age (years) Age (years)

Figure 1. Changes in 10-m sprint time, maximal sprinting speed (MSS), counter movement jump (CMJ) and peak incremental test speed
(VVam-Eval) in selected highly-trained soccer players over a 4-year period. Grey areas represent the time when players entered the academy.
The anthropometric and performance profile of each player at this particular time is detailed in the colored text box (i.e., height, body mass,
age for/from peak height velocity [PHV] and selected performance measures). Note some evident differences in the changes in performance
in players presenting similar anthropometric and performance profiles at the start of the follow up.
 8 M. Buchheit & A. Mendez-Villanueva

10-m sprint MSS

A.M. A.M.
A.A. A.A.
H.N. H.N.
I.A. I.A.

Players
Players

J.M. J.M.
M.F. M.F.
N.I. N.I.
O.M. O.M.
S.M. S.M.
S.A. S.A.

CMJ VVam-Eval
A.M. A.M.
A.A. A.A.
H.N. H.N.
I.A. I.A.
Players

Players
J.M. J.M.
M.F. M.F.
N.I. N.I.
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 04:38 12 May 2013

O.M. O.M.
S.M. S.M.
S.A. S.A.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Average rank (90% CI) Average rank (90% CI)

Figure 2. Average (90% confidence interval, CI) rank for each outfield player over a 4-year period with respect to 10-m sprint time, maximal
sprinting speed (MSS), counter movement jump (CMJ) and peak incremental test speed (VVam-Eval).

Table IV. Long-term stability of ranking throughout the 4-year period.

Maximal Peak
Sum of 7 10-m sprinting incremental
Height Body mass skinfolds APHV sprint speed CMJ test speed

n rank 98/110 98/110 96/110 98/110 95/110 97/110 97/110 98/110

ICC (90%CL) 0.91 0.96 0.62 0.95 0.66 0.71 0.66 0.83
(0.85;0.95) (0.93;0.98) (0.45;0.78) (0.91;0.97) (0.50;0.80) (0.55;0.83) (0.50;0.80) (0.73;0.91)

Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the player’s rank for anthropometric measures, estimated age at peak height velocity (APHV),
10-m sprint time, maximal sprinting speed, counter movement jump (CMJ) and peak incremental test speed in selected highly-trained
soccer players over a 4-year period.

Short-term reliability of anthropometric and physical and, hence, displayed some slight improvements in
performance measures in highly-trained young soccer performance (likely to the combined effect growth
players differing in age and maturation and training).
In the present study, the average estimate of APHV
The TE represents the noise occurring from trial-to-
(14.3 ± 0.7 years) was close to the range previously
trial, which might confound the assessment of real
described for European boys (13.8–14.2 years,
changes in repeated measures (i.e., when monitoring
(Malina, Bouchard, & Bar-Or, 2004)), which tends
changes in athletes, absolute reliability) (Hopkins,
to confirm the validity of this estimate in the Middle
2000). In contrast, the ICC reflects the ability of a
East population. Our primary finding is that, in con-
test to differentiate between individuals (i.e. relative
trast with our hypotheses, neither age (Table II) nor
reliability) (Weir, 2005). It is also sample-size depen-
maturity status (Table III) had a clear effect on the
dent and largely affected by the heterogeneity of the
CV and ICC values for anthropometric and physical
between-subject measures (Weir, 2005). It is also
performance measures. All players, as a part of the
worth noting that both the TE and ICC are insensi-
general monitoring system of the academy, had
tive to the change in the mean between successive
already repeated the tests several times before the
trials, which was particularly relevant for the present
experimentation. This may have diminished
study design. Players were tested within a month,
 Reliability and stability of test measures in youth soccer
variations in technique and voluntary engagement in
the younger groups, resulting in comparable reliability
levels across the different age/maturity groups. While
this might be test-dependent, at least 2 to 3 repeti-
tions of the same speed-related test are sometimes
required to observe stabilisation in performance (i.e.,
to overcome the learning effect) (Glaister et al.,
2009). The relatively high training volume of our
players (approximately 14 h a week) might also
explain present findings, especially for the pre-PHV
players expected to present an “adolescence awk-
wardness” and a poorer reliability of performance
measures. In fact, regular and intense training may
tend to stabilise locomotor function, and, in turn,
normalise possible differences in reliability between
the different age/maturity groups.
Finally, the overall short-term reliability of most of
the present measures was in agreement with data
previously reported for adolescents and/or other
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 04:38 12 May 2013
populations. While care should be taken when com-
paring our data with those from the literature
because of the different methods employed to calcu-
late both a CV (i.e., calculated from the standard
deviation of difference vs. from the TE as in the
present study) and an ICC (Weir, 2005), the CV
for 10-m sprint times (2.2%) was within the range
(0.9–2.1%) observed in young athletes aged 8–18
years (Rumpf, Cronin, Oliver, & Hughes, 2011),
although poorer than previously reported in elite
adult rugby players (≈ 1% (Duthie, Pyne, Ross,
Livingstone, & Hooper, 2006)). While the absolute
reliability of maximal sprint speed as assessed in the
present study has not been examined yet, the CV
value observed (1.4%) is in line with the values gen-
erally reported for 40-m sprints (Rumpf et al., 2011).
The CV for CMJ height (4.5%) was similar to the
5% measured in elite adult Australian Football Rules
players on a force plate (Cormack, Newton,
McGuigan, & Doyle, 2008). Poorer reliability of
CMJ was however reported in untrained, 13-year-
old adolescents (13%, (Lloyd, Oliver, Hughes, &
Williams, 2009)), but in this latter study a contact
mat was used, which prevents a direct comparison
with present data. The CV for the peak incremental
test speed observed in the present study (3.5%) is
also consistent with the data reported for similar
incremental running protocol: 3.5% for speed
reached at the University of Montreal Track Test
in moderately trained athletes (Leger & Boucher,
1980), 2.5 and 3% for treadmill peak speed in well-
trained male distance runners (Saunders, Cox,
Hopkins, & Pyne, 2010) and recreational runners
(Harling, Tong, & Mickleborough, 2003), respec-
tively. With respect to body composition, present
CV values are also comparable to the literature on
intra-observer reliability: height (0.4% vs. 0.2–0.4%
for a meta-analysis in adults (Ulijaszek & Kerr,
9
1999)) and the sum of 7 skinfolds (4.9% vs. ≈ 6–
10% in 16-year-old individuals taken from the gen-
eral population (Moreno et al., 2003)). We found,
however, a greater CV for BM (1.4%) than reported
in the general population (i.e., 0.2–0.5% for a meta-
analysis (Ulijaszek & Kerr, 1999)). This can be
related to the fact that BM may vary more on a
day-by-day basis in athletes than in sedentary indivi-
duals measured on the same day, probably as a
function of the different training sessions/cycles and
the associated changes in hydration status. Finally,
despite the growing interest for the assessment of
maturity status in developing players (Malina,
Coelho, Figueiredo, Carling, & Beunen, 2012;
Philippaerts et al., 2006), the reliability of the esti-
mated APHV (Mirwald et al., 2002) was still
unknown. Present results show for the first time
that the estimated APHV likely presents a high
level of reliability (CV = 0.6%, ICC = 0.98), which
is actually better than that of the individual anthro-
pometric measures used to derive this estimation.
Overall, these data suggest that, in highly-trained
soccer players, the present anthropometric and per-
formance measures show good absolute reliability
and high to very-high relative reliability, irrespective
of age and maturation. Similar thresholds (i.e., ½ of
the CV) (Hopkins, Hawley, & Burke, 1999) can
therefore be used to assess meaningful changes dur-
ing the season in players differing in age/maturation
status.
Long-term stability of anthropometric and physical
performance measures in highly-trained young soccer
players over a 4-year period
In agreement with our hypothesis, we found large
variations in the rank scores of the players with
respect to both anthropometric and physical perfor-
mance measures over the 4-year period (Table IV
and Figure 2). It is however worth noting that within
such a limited group of players (i.e., n = 10), small
changes in ranking are responsible for large changes
in ICC (i.e., moving from the first to second place
corresponds to a 10% change). We also observed
large inter-individual differences in the change in
physical performances in players presenting similar
anthropometric and performance profiles at the age
of 12, both between two consecutive testing sessions
and over the entire 4-year period (Figure 1). We
observed for example, in two young players present-
ing a similar anthropometric profile and an equiva-
lent maximal sprint speed at the age of 12.5 years
(25.5 km · h−1), more than 2.5 km · h−1 of difference
at the age of 16.5 (Figure 1, upper right panel).
These two players belonged to the same team,
reported a great attendance to training and therefore
have, with the exception of short (less than a week)
 10 M. Buchheit & A. Mendez-Villanueva
training interruptions due to minor injuries (none of
them got a major injury), and the obvious playing
position-related differences in training load, a likely
similar training load over the 4 years. It is therefore
difficult to clearly explain these individual responses
to training, but they were likely associated with dif-
ferent genetic backgrounds (Bouchard & Rankinen,
2001; Vollaard et al., 2009) and changes in body
dimensions, which show large inter-individual differ-
ences in their rate of devolvement during and/with
growth (Malina et al., 2004). Anecdotally, the player
that became faster put on more (muscle) mass than
the other, i.e., +3 kg of BM, which is known to affect
speed-related locomotor performance in this specific
population (Mendez-Villanueva et al., 2010). It is
however worth noting that due to the limited sample
size for the longitudinal analysis, the uncertainty of
some of the outcomes is important (i.e., large 90%
CI for ICCs); present results should therefore be
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 04:38 12 May 2013
interpreted with care. Further longitudinal studies
on a larger sample size using a more powerful mod-
elling approach (Maia et al., 2003), together with a
better description of individual training contents, are
therefore warranted to draw definitive conclusions.
In the present study, while more than 30 players
trained/played in the academy during the 4-year per-
iod of interest, we chose to restrict our analysis to the
players having successfully participated in at least
90% of the total testing sessions to assess the con-
tinuous changes in their respective ranking (Table IV
and Figure 2); this resulted in a limited but high-
quality sample size for final data analysis. Except for
the exemplary study from Phillippaerts (Philippaerts
et al., 2006), longitudinal studies including a larger
sample size have generally been conducted over
shorter time periods and/or on less trained popula-
tions (e.g., Abbott & Collins, 2002; Beunen et al.,
1992; Lefevre, Beunen, Steens, Claessens, &
Renson, 1990; Maia et al., 2001; Maia et al., 2003;
Williams et al., 2011).
The fact that the fittest U13 players might not
remain the fittest when they reach the U17 age
group is consistent with the poor long-term stability
of the measures observed in a general sporting popu-
lation over a year, where correlation coefficient less
than 0.70 were reported between the rank scores
(pre vs. post period of interest) (Abbott & Collins,
2002). In contrast, Beunen and collaborators
showed in different studies in the general population
that the stability of physical fitness was moderate
(Maia et al., 2003) to good (Maia et al., 2001)
throughout adolescence. They also reported that
individuals who performed well for their maturity
level during adolescence had a good chance of still
performing above average at the age of 30 (Lefevre
et al., 1990). Dissimilarities in study populations,
participants’ training status and background,
selection process and methods of data analysis
might explain the differences observed. It is also
worth noting that the precision needed to rank indi-
viduals is much higher for selection in soccer players
than in the general population, since club/academies
will tend to select a couple of players among thou-
sands of candidates, with the well-known associated
economic stakes. Therefore, present results suggest
that the predictive values of physical testing in such
young soccer players (i.e., U13) may be limited,
especially for speed (i.e., 10-m sprint time) and
explosive strength (i.e., CMJ) measures
(ICCs ≤ 0.66). In contrast, height, BM and to a
lesser extent, aerobic power (as inferred from peak
incremental test speed), are likely be the more stable
measures. While the exact reasons for the observed
differences in the long-term stability of these mea-
sures could not be examined in the present study,
our data question the interest of testing some physi-
cal performances in a talent identification perspec-
tive at these early ages (Abbott & Collins, 2002;
Buchheit, 2011).
Conclusion
To conclude, in highly-trained developing soccer
players, the short-term reliability of anthropometry
and performance measures is unlikely to be affected
by age and maturation. Similar thresholds (i.e., ½ of
the CV (Hopkins et al., 1999)) can therefore be used
to assess meaningful changes during the season in
players differing in age/maturation status. However,
the relative ranking of each player within a team can
vary considerably, so that the changes in anthropo-
metric and physical performance measures are unli-
kely to be predictable throughout adolescence. In
players presenting similar anthropometric and perfor-
mance profiles at the age of 12, very large inter-indi-
vidual differences can exist in the change in their
physical performances over 4 years. This poor long-
term stability partly limits and questions the interest of
testing some physical performance measures in such
young players (i.e., U13) in a talent identification
perspective. Further longitudinal studies on larger
sample sizes are still warranted to define the optimal
periods of testing throughout growth and development
that may be associated with the greatest prediction of
future anthropometric and performances profiles.
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