Positional performance index in youth football through principal component analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v82.118527Keywords:
Youth football , performance index, playing position, principal component analysisAbstract
Introduction: Youth football presents significant challenges related to the identification of position-specific physical demands required by players according to their playing roles.
Objective: The aim of this study was to develop an integrated performance index based on principal component analysis to distinguish between playing position among youth football players.
Methodology: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional, analytical-comparative, and multivariate design. The sample consisted of 160 male U-20 football players affiliated with formative clubs in Santiago de Cali. The sample consisted of 160 masculine youth football players on the U-20, affiliated to formative clubs in Santiago de Cali. CMJ and SJ were applied to assess neuromuscular ability employing ADR jumping tool, also photocells were employed to evaluate sprint times on 10, 20 or 30 meters, change of directions and Illinois test were also used. Finally, the horizontal jump, the RSA 6×20 m test, and the Yo-Yo test were applied, with VO₂max estimated indirectly from the latter.
Results and discussion: Principal component analysis identified three components explaining 51.5% of the total variance in physical performance, highlighting a primary axis dominated by speed and agility in contrast to aerobic endurance and power. PCA derived indices, particularly the weighted index and the IRR, demonstrated a high discriminative capacity between playing positions, with large effect sizes.
Conclusions: PCA enabled the identification of key functional axes of physical performance and the development of a sensitive index reflecting the position-specific demands of youth football.
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