Investigation of factors contributing to agility in prepubertal soccer players
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Abstract
Agility is critical for soccer performance; however, limited studies have explored its underlying physical predictors in prepubertal athletes during development. This study aimed to investigate the factors contributing to agility in male prepubertal soccer players. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study on 52 male soccer players (chronological age: 10.6 ± 1.1 years; height: 141.4 ± 9.8 cm; body weight: 35.5 ± 9.8 kg). Reactive shuttle test (RST) was measured as an indicator of agility. Additional assessments included linear sprint, pro-agility test, squat jump, countermovement jump, rebound jump, and standing long jump. The RST also included measurement of reaction time at the initiation of movement. Furthermore, the change of direction (COD) deficit, calculated as the difference between the pro-agility test time and linear sprint time, was used to estimate the additional time required to change direction. Multiple regression analysis identified reaction time (β = 0.387), linear sprint time (β = 0.558), and COD deficit (β = 0.377) as significant predictors of RST time (p < .05), with an adjusted R² of .88. These findings suggest that, unlike in more physically developed athletes, reaction time, linear sprint speed, and COD deficit significantly contribute to agility in prepubertal soccer players.
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