The Effect of Sex, Maturity, and Training Status on Maximal Sprint Performance Kinetics

Purpose: The development of sprint running during youth has received renewed interest, but questions remain regarding the development of speed in youth, especially the influences of sex, training, and maturity status. Methods: One hundred and fortyseven team sport trained (69 girls; 14.3 [2.1] y) and 113 untrained (64 girls; 13.8 [2.7] y) youth completed two 30-m sprints separated by 2-minute active rest. Velocity was measured using a radar gun at >46 Hz, with power and force variables derived from a force-velocity-power profile. Results: Boys produced a significantly higher absolute peak power (741 [272] vs 645 [229] W; P<.01) and force (431 [124] vs 398 [125] N; P<.01) than girls, irrespective of maturity and training status. However, there was a greater sex difference in relative mean power and peak velocity in circa peak height velocity adolescents (46.9% and 19.8%, respectively) compared with prepeak height velocity (5.4% and 3.2%) or postpeak height velocity youth (11.6% and 5.6%). Conclusions: Sprint development in youth is sexually dimorphic which needs considering when devising long-term training plans. Further research is needed to explore the independent, and combined, effects of sex, training, and maturity status on sprint performance kinetics in youth.

Automated summary

The development of sprint running in youth is influenced by sex, with boys generally having higher absolute power and force. However, there are greater sex differences in relative power and peak velocity in adolescents near peak height velocity. Consideration of these sex differences is important in designing long-term training plans for youth sprint development.