Relationships between physical performance characteristics and match characteristics of English academy soccer players

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.