Jason D. Vescovi1 and Todd D. Brown2 Comparison of linear sprint times among middle school, high school, and college aged female soccer players Jason D. Vescovi1 and Todd D. Brown2 1Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 2The Sports Performance Essentials, LLC, Marlton, NJ, U.S.A. Abstract Percentiles for Cumulative Splits   Min 90 75 50 25 10 Max 9.1 m Middle School 1.72 1.85 1.92 1.99 2.09 2.15 2.42 High School 1.68 1.81 1.87 1.94 2.03 2.08 2.41 College 1.91 1.97 2.04 2.22 18.2 m 2.97 3.20 3.30 3.39 3.58 3.66 4.19 2.98 3.12 3.22 3.33 3.44 3.57 4.04 3.14 3.23 3.43 3.53 3.73 27.4 m 4.18 4.47 4.60 4.76 5.02 5.15 5.92 4.08 4.33 4.45 4.62 4.78 5.58 4.38 4.51 4.58 4.77 4.90 5.16 36.6 m 5.39 5.76 5.94 6.16 6.50 6.67 7.85 5.22 5.56 5.70 5.95 6.15 6.51 7.15 5.35 5.55 5.71 5.87 6.08 6.30 Percentiles for Individual Splits   Min 90 75 50 25 10 Max 2nd 9.1 m Middle School 1.24 1.34 1.37 1.42 1.50 1.53 1.77 High School 1.29 1.33 1.38 1.43 1.51 1.63 College 1.19 1.26 1.32 1.35 1.40 1.46 1.56 3rd 9.1 m 1.25 1.31 1.49 1.73 1.06 1.20 1.30 1.36 1.59 1.10 1.47 4th 9.1 m 1.21 1.27 1.48 1.54 1.93 1.14 1.60 1.07 1.17 1.23 1.28 Introduction No single study has presented linear sprint times for a group of female soccer players spanning a wide age range1-3, thus it is unclear if we can distinguish between different age groups based on linear sprint times of varying distances. We hypothesized that older players would demonstrate faster sprint times, regardless of the distance, compared to younger players. Methods Data from 451 female soccer players aged 12-21 years who participated in several previously conducted studies from our group were gathered retrospectively and evaluated in a cross-sectional design. Participants were divided based on age into the following groups: middle school (12-13 yr, n=89); high school (14-17 yr, n=236); and college (18-21 yr, n=126). Linear sprint performance was assessed every 9.1m for 36.6m using infrared timing gates (Brower Timing, Utah). Participants were instructed to begin when ready and to run at maximal speed through the final pair of sensors. Participants performed the sprint test in duplicate; the fastest time for the 36.6m and all associated split times were used for statistical analysis. We compared cumulative, individual and flying split times between the age groups using a one-way ANOVA with LSD post-hoc analysis. Results Cumulative split times were greater in middle school soccer players compared to high school players for 9.1m (1.99±0.13 vs. 1.95±0.11s, p=0.003), and greater than high school and college athletes for 18.3 (3.42±0.20 vs. 3.34±0.17 and 3.33±0.15s, p<0.000), 27.4 (4.80±0.28 vs. 4.64±0.25 and 4.62±0.21s, p<0.000), and 36.6m (6.20±0.39 vs. 5.97±0.34 and 5.90±0.28s, p<0.000), but there was no difference between high school and college players for any of the cumulative split times. Individual split times were different between each age group for the second (1.43±0.09 vs. 1.39±0.08 vs. 1.36±0.07s, p≤0.001) and fourth (1.41±0.12 vs. 1.33±0.10 vs. 1.28±0.09s, p<0.000) 9.1m distances. For the third 9.1m individual split, middle school soccer players had greater times compared to high school and college players (1.37±0.09 vs. 1.31±0.09 and 1.29±0.07s, p<0.000). Differences between each age group were also observed for flying 18.3m sprint times (2.80±0.17 vs. 2.69±0.13 vs. 2.65±0.17, p≤0.021). Discussion Sprint time for the first 9.1m was different only between the middle school and high school soccer players, whereas the cumulative split times for longer distances (i.e., ≥18.2m) were greater for middle school players compared to both the high school and college players, with no differences observed between the two older age groups. In contrast, individual split times for the second and fourth 9.1m splits, as well as the flying times were different between each of the three age groups suggesting that individual or flying, rather than cumulative, split times may be more useful when attempting to distinguish between middle school, high school, and college female soccer players. Future research should examine linear sprint characteristics in professional and Olympic level female soccer players to determine if these indices can distinguish between higher and lower level players, or between selected compared to non-selected players for a given team within a particular level of play 1. * Purpose The purposes of this study were to: Determine linear sprint times for female soccer players over a wide age range. Compare linear sprint times between middle school, high school and college aged female soccer players. Methods Participants Data from 451 female soccer players aged 12-21 years who participated in several previously conducted studies from our group were gathered retrospectively and evaluated in a cross-sectional design. Participants were divided based on age into the following groups: middle school (12-13 yr, n=89); high school (14-17 yr, n=236); and college (18-21 yr, n=126). Linear Sprint Linear sprint performance was assessed every 9.1m for 36.6m using infrared timing gates (Brower Timing, Utah) positioned at a height of approximately 1.0 m. Participants stood upright at the start line, were instructed to begin when ready and to run at maximal speed through the final pair of sensors. Participants performed the sprint test in duplicate; the fastest time for the 36.6m and all associated split times were used for statistical analysis. Statistics We compared cumulative, individual and flying split times between the age groups using a one-way ANOVA with LSD post-hoc analysis. We determined percentiles for each age over the entire range of our sample. * * Results Cumulative Splits Cumulative split times were greater in middle school soccer players compared to high school players for 9.1m (1.99±0.13 vs. 1.95±0.11s, p=0.003), and greater than high school and college athletes for 18.3 (3.42±0.20 vs. 3.34±0.17 and 3.33±0.15s, p<0.000), 27.4 (4.80±0.28 vs. 4.64±0.25 and 4.62±0.21s, p<0.000), and 36.6m (6.20±0.39 vs. 5.97±0.34 and 5.90±0.28s, p<0.000), but there was no difference between high school and college players for any of the cumulative split times. Individual Splits Individual split times were different between each age group for the second (1.43±0.09 vs. 1.39±0.08 vs. 1.36±0.07s, p≤0.001) and fourth (1.41±0.12 vs. 1.33±0.10 vs. 1.28±0.09s, p<0.000) 9.1m distances. For the third 9.1m individual split, middle school soccer players had greater times compared to high school and college players (1.37±0.09 vs. 1.31±0.09 and 1.29±0.07s, p<0.000). Flying Splits Differences between each age group were also observed for flying 18.3m sprint times (2.80±0.17 vs. 2.69±0.13 vs. 2.65±0.17, p≤0.021). Conclusions * References 1.Hoare DG, Warr CR. Journal of Sports Sciences. Sep 2000;18:751-758. 2.Tumilty D, Darby S. Journal of Sports Sciences. 1992;10:145. 3.Vescovi JD, Brown TD, Murray TM. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness.2006;46:221-226. Acknowledgement This project was supported in part by a student grant from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.