Impact of biological maturation on match workload in Portuguese elite male academy soccer players

Abstract

Youth soccer academies are essential for identifying and developing talented players, yet substantial inter-individual variability in biological maturation may influence match workload beyond chronological age. This study investigated the independent and interactive effects of biological maturation and age on match workload in elite male youth soccer players (U14–U17). Sixty Portuguese academy players were assessed at six time points across two competitive seasons (2021–22 and 2022–23). Biological maturation was classified using the percentage of predicted adult height, grouping players as pre-/circa-PHV and post-PHV. Mixed-effects models were used to examine the effects of age, maturity status, and their interaction on match workload metrics. Chronological age significantly influenced high-speed running (ß = 0.527, p = 0.001) and sprint distance per minute (ß = 0.174, p = 0.001). In contrast, total distance per minute and total accelerations and decelerations per minute were shaped by significant age × maturity interactions (p = .001), indicating stronger maturityrelated effects at younger ages that attenuated across adolescence. Chronological age alone does not adequately account for variability in match workload among elite youth soccer players. Biological maturation plays a significant role, in conjunction with age, in determining the demands of total distance and acceleration/deceleration, with more pronounced effects observed at younger ages and a diminishing influence as players reach post-peak height velocity (PHV) stages. Conversely, high-speed running and sprinting distances are primarily influenced by age. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating biological maturity into the interpretation of match workload, particularly during early to-mid adolescence.