Comparison of sprint and endurance performance of youth football players

Abstract

^{This study aims to compare the sprint and endurance performance of youth football players. Twenty-two participants were grouped into two categories: the 14-year-old group (Height: 159,55±7,353cm; weight: 47,455±5,43kg) and the 15-year-old group (height: 174,27±6,035cm; weight: 60,318±7,57kg). A competition period general training program was applied 4 days a week for 9 weeks. Both groups did the Yo-yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 test (YoyoIR1) and the 30m sprint test before and after 9 weeks. Tests and measurements were applied 1 week before the start of the league. A significant difference was found in sprint post-test between the groups. In the 14-year-old group, there is a significant difference in YoyoIR1. In the 15-year-old group, there were significant differences between the pre-test and post-tests in YoyoIR1 and sprint performance. In conclusion, a general training program in a competition period improved YoyoIR1 performance for both ages. On the other hand, only the 15-year-old group improved in sprint performance.}