Effect of bio‐banding on physiological and technical‐tactical key performance indicators in youth elite soccer
Dennis Lüdin, Lars Donath, Stephen Cobley, Michael Romann
Abstract
ABSTRACT Bio‐banding has been introduced to reduce the impact of inter‐individual differences due to biological maturation among youth athletes. Existing studies in youth soccer have generally examined the pilot‐testing application of bio‐banding. This is the first study that investigated whether bio‐banded (BB) versus chronological age (CA) competition affects reliable physiological and technical‐tactical in‐game key performance indicators (KPIs) using a randomized cross‐over repeated measures design. Sixty‐five youth elite soccer players from the under‐13 (U 13 ) and under‐14 (U 14 ) age category and with maturity offsets (MO) between −2.5 and 0.5 years, competed in both a BB and CA game. For statistical analysis, players were divided into four sub‐groups according to CA and MO: U 13 MO low (CA ≤ 12.7, MO ≤ −1.4), U 13 MO high (CA ≤ 12.7, MO > −1.4), U 14 MO low (CA > 12.7, MO ≤ −1.4), U 14 MO high (CA > 12.7, MO > −1.4). The two‐factor mixed ANOVA revealed significant ( p < .05) interactions between competition format and sub‐group for the KPIs high accelerations ( = .176), conquered balls ( = .227) and attack balls ( = .146). Especially, U 13 MO high (i.e. early maturing players) faced a higher physiological challenge by having more high accelerations (| d | = 0.6) in BB games. Notably, U 14 MO low (i.e. late maturing players) had more opportunities to show their technical‐tactical abilities during BB games with more conquered balls (| d | = 1.1) and attack balls (| d | = 1.6). Affected KPIs indicate new challenges and learning opportunities during BB competition depending on a player's individual maturity status. Bio‐banding can beneficially be applied to enhance the talent development of youth elite soccer players.