Maturity-associated variations in anthropometry, physical fitness, and sport-specific skills among young male and female futsal players

Purpose. The aim of this study was to determine the maturity-related variations in anthropometry, physical fitness, and sport-specific skills among young male and female futsal players. Methods. Overall, 77 athletes (44 boys and 33 girls) aged 10.5–13.7 (12.3 ± 0.9) years were measured for stature, body mass, 2 skinfolds, as well as 3 fitness and 2 sport-specific test items. Results. Compared with boys, girls were significantly more advanced in maturation and had greater body mass index and body fat percentage. Except for the countermovement jump result, boys outperformed girls in all fitness and sport-skill assessments. Regardless of gender, early maturing players were significantly taller and heavier and had higher body fat percentage and grip strength than their late maturing counterparts. In boys, none of the other physical fitness and sport-specific skill measures significantly differed between contrasting maturity groups. In turn, early maturing girls had significantly better scores in all physical fitness measurements than late maturing girls. Partial correlations, with chronological age controlled as a covariate, indicated moderate to high correlations between the maturation indicator and stature and body mass in both boys and girls. Except for grip strength and dribbling tests for boys and girls, respectively, other physical fitness and sport-specific skill measures did not show a significant correlation with maturity status. Conclusions. These results highlight that rather than with functional and sport-specific characteristics, physical maturity status may be associated with greater body size in young futsal players.