Assessment of physical performance across selected age categories in football

Abstract

Assessing an individual's functional fitness is a key prerequisite for optimizing the training process in response to the progressively increasing physiological and performance demands placed on youth football categories. Systematic monitoring of functional parameters allows coaches and sports medicine professionals to better individualize training loads and support long-term athletic development. This study aimed to evaluate the physical fitness of football players from different age categories, with a focus on their functional status and the identification of potential age-related differences in selected respiratory, circulatory, and performance parameters. The study sample included 64 male football players categorized as U16 (n = 21), U17 (n = 11), U19 (n = 18), and senior players (n = 14). Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry by measuring forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and the FEV1/FVC ratio as pulmonary function parameters. To evaluate ventilatory–circulatory efficiency, spiroergometric testing was performed to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Additional circulatory and performance-related parameters included ventilatory thresholds (aerobic and anaerobic), maximal heart rate (HRmax), and oxygen pulse. Performance indicators were analyzed in both absolute terms and relative to body mass to allow for a more accurate comparison across age groups with different anthropometric characteristics. A one-way analysis of variance (OW-ANOVA) was used to assess differences among the observed age categories. The results showed statistically significant differences in the absolute values of most monitored functional parameters across the age groups, reflecting the influence of biological maturation and training experience. However, no significant agerelated effect was confirmed for the aerobic threshold (F(3,60) = 1.915, p = 0.137) or anaerobic threshold (F(3,60) = 2.583, p = 0.062) when expressed relative to HRmax.These findings offer valuable insights for coaches and sports physicians, providing evidence-based guidance for age-specific training recommendations and for the structured development of functional fitness in football players at different stages of athletic progression.