Sousana Symeonidou

Background: Morphological characteristics influence physical performance in youth basketball, but their effects may differ by developmental stage. This study compared the predictive role of morphological variables on motor performance between U13 and U15 male players. Methods: Male youth basketball players (N = 89) were assigned to U13 and U15 groups. Morphological variables included height, body mass, body fat percentage, and fat-free mass (FFM). Motor tests evaluated squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), 10 m and 20 m sprints, T-test, Y-test and Stop-and-Go change-of-direction speed and reactive agility (RA). Pearson correlations and multiple linear regressions assessed relationships and predictive effects. Results: In U13 players, several morphological variables correlated with performance: height and FFM were positively related to jumping and sprinting, while body fat was negatively associated with most measures (p < 0.05). Regression models explained substantial variance in sprint (ranging up to _AdjR² = 0.44) and jump performance (ranging up to _AdjR² = 0.32), though individual predictors were not always significant (p > 0.05). In U15 players, fewer associations emerged as body fat remained a significant negative predictor of jumping and agility, and greater body mass was associated with improved sprint performance (p < 0.05). No significant morphological predictors were found for RA in either group (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Morphological traits exert a stronger, multifactorial influence on performance in younger athletes, whereas body composition and particularly body fat are more influential in older adolescents. These results underscore the need to consider the developmental stage when assessing and training male youth basketball players.

Sustained engagement in physical activity during adolescence is a critical determinant of long-term health and well-being. Performance feedback is widely used in youth sport settings, yet its motivational impact may depend on athletes’ developmental stage and training experience. This study examined adolescents’ motivational responses following individualized sprint performance feedback and investigated whether training experience and sprint performance moderated these responses. Fifty-three adolescent athletes (mean age = 14.86 ± 0.81 years) completed a brief five-item questionnaire assessing commitment, enjoyment, self-determination, intention to continue training, and self-efficacy immediately after receiving individualized sprint performance feedback. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the scale’s factorial structure and reliability. A two-way analysis of variance examined the effects of training age (1–6 vs. 7–12 years) and sprint performance (faster vs. slower) on overall motivational response. Factor analyses provided preliminary support for a unidimensional motivational response construct (ω = 0.92; α = 0.92). Overall motivational responses following feedback were moderately positive. Sprint performance demonstrated a significant main effect on motivation. Importantly, a significant interaction between training age and performance emerged as the key finding, indicating that less experienced athletes were more sensitive to performance outcomes, whereas motivation among more experienced athletes remained relatively stable. Individualized sprint performance feedback appears to be associated with moderately positive motivational responses in adolescent athletes, particularly during early stages of sport participation. These findings highlight the importance of developmentally appropriate feedback strategies that emphasize progress and competence development to support engagement in youth sport, which may be relevant for sustained participation over time.

Background/Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined how training age, chronological age, and biological maturity influence motor and perceptual–cognitive performance in youth soccer players, with relevance for health and well-being through sport participation. Methods: Forty-one male athletes (age = 14.86 ± 0.81 years) completed a two-day field-based assessment following a holistic framework integrating motor (sprinting, jumping, and agility) and perceptual–cognitive components (psychomotor speed, visuospatial working memory, and spatial visualization). Biological maturity was estimated using the maturity offset method. Results: Regression analyses showed that biological maturity and training age significantly predicted motor performance, particularly sprinting, jumping, and pre-planned agility, whereas chronological age was not a predictor. In contrast, neither maturity nor training experience influenced perceptual–cognitive skills. Among cognitive measures, only psychomotor speed significantly predicted reactive agility, emphasizing the role of rapid information processing in dynamic, game-specific contexts. Conclusions: Youth soccer training should address both physical and cognitive development through complementary strategies. Physical preparation should be tailored to maturity status to ensure safe and progressive loading, while systematic training of psychomotor speed and decision-making should enhance reactive agility and game intelligence. Integrating maturity and perceptual–cognitive assessments may support individualized development, improved performance, and long-term well-being.