Analysis of physical fitness of young football players: effects of lead time and competitive ownership

Objective to evaluate and compare the physical fitness and technique of young according to the situation of starters or nonstarters in under-17 football team, whereas preparatory, competitive and post competitive periods. This observational study evaluated at the beginning of each of the times cited, relevant physical variables in football, namely: power of lower limbs, flexibility, agility, repeated sprints ability and distance covered in progressive field test, in addition to the variable technique of pass. In multivariate analysis, for the different performance evaluations was observed effect of time (F = 4.49; p = 0.001; power < 0.99), but not the starter situation at the beginning of the season (F = 1.94; p = 0.54; power = 0.86). Univariadas analyses, showed impaired in agility performance (p < 0.001), time to execute sequence of pass (p = 0.001) and repeated sprints ability (p < 0.001) over time. Still, quadratic trend is exhibited for the vertical jump and time to play sequence of pass (p = 0.05), and linear trend for flexibility (p = 0.01), agility (p = 0.001) and in measures of the RAST (p < 0.01). Presented, in agility, there was difference between starters and nonstarters in the three moments of analyses, with best values among the first (p < 0.05). It is concluded that starters and non-starters differed only as to agility. Indicates that a competitive season generated negative modification in agility, repeated sprint ability and distance covered, but positive in test of lower limb power and flexibility, demanding revision of the training process aimed at this population.