Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between physical performance and match characteristics of Elite academy soccer players using pooled data across U15, U16, U18, U23 age groups. Sixty elite academy soccer players including u15 (Subject: N = 15; age: 14.64 ± 0.25; mass: 59.88 ± 9.12 kg; height: 171 ± 6.69 cm), u16 (Subject: N = 15; age: 15.42 ± 0.36; mass: 65.11 ± 8.70 kg; height: 175 ± 7.21 cm), u18 (Subject: N = 15; age: 17.00 ± 1.00; mass: 72.85 ± 7.43 kg; height: 179 ± 6.43 cm), u23 (Subject: N = 15; age: 19.60 ± 0.85; mass: 77.47 ± 7.03 kg; height: 181 ± 7.69 cm) volunteered to participate in this study. Absolute eccentric hamstring strength indicated weak to moderate associations with maximum speed and explosive distance (ED) (r ≥ 0.33; p ≤ 0.048), while absolute isometric mid-thigh pull peak force was moderately correlated (r ≥ 0.41; p ≤ 0.004) with high-speed running (HSR), very high-speed running (VHSR), maximum speed and ED. Performance in the 10–5 repeated jump test demonstrated weak to moderate correlations (r ≥ 0.33; p ≤ 0.044) with HSR, VHSR, maximum speed and ED, countermovement jump and squat jump height exhibited weak to strong correlations with HSR, VHSR, max speed (r ≥ 0.31; p ≤ 0.045), aerobic fitness from the 30–15 intermittent fitness test demonstrated weak to moderate correlations with TD, ED, relative VHSR (r ≥ 0.32; p ≤ 0.048). Results from the correlations indicate moderate relationships between isometric, dynamic, aerobic, performance tests and match characteristics, however when testing results were expressed relative to body mass or match duration, weak to no correlations were seen. Although players with better developed physical qualities will have greater physical performance in match output, relative strength measures must be improved to further develop performance.
Keywords
aerobic fitness, countermovement jump, eccentric hamstrings strength, high-speed running, isometric mid-thigh pull, relative strength
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
E-ISSN
2048397X
ISSN
17479541
Publication Title
International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching
Publisher
Sage
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
101930
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Dickinson, B., Jones, P., & Comfort, P. (2026). Relationships between physical performance characteristics and match characteristics of English academy soccer players. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541261469980