Large-Scale Evaluation of Performance and Biological Maturation in Post-PHV Youth Soccer Players: Sprinting, Jumping, Aerobic Fitness, and Functional Movement

Abstract

Akbaş, A, Hadyk, V, Bryk, P, Mazzei, S, Stanula, A, and Juras, G. Large-scale evaluation of performance and biological maturation in post-PHV youth soccer players: Sprinting, jumping, aerobic fitness, and functional movement. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2026—This study aimed to provide an integrated developmental profile of adolescent soccer players by examining how chronological age, biological maturation, and functional movement quality interact to shape sprint, jump, and aerobic fitness performance. A total of 246 male athletes (U15–U17) from 5 elite youth soccer academies completed sprint, jump, change-of-direction (COD), and aerobic tests alongside Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Y-Balance Test (YBT) assessments. Maturity offset (years from peak height velocity, PHV) was used to estimate biological age, and group differences were analyzed using analysis of variance and analysis of covariance, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Significant improvements with age were observed in sprinting, jumping, and aerobic fitness ( p < 0.001); however, after controlling for PHV, differences in jumping and COD performance were no longer significant, whereas sprint performance and aerobic fitness remained age-dependent. Functional movement and balance showed small age-related differences that were largely explained by maturational variation. Weak and inconsistent correlations between FMS, YBT, and performance (|r| ≈ 0.20–0.35) suggested partial independence between movement quality and motor output. Notably, in older players, higher scores in mobility-related FMS components were associated with slower sprinting, a pattern that may reflect—rather than cause—reduced mechanical efficiency associated with greater flexibility. These findings indicate that post-PHV players are not a homogeneous group and support the use of maturity-informed, multidimensional athlete monitoring to guide individualized training even after PHV.