Altered landing mechanics are shown by male youth soccer players at different stages of maturation.

OBJECTIVES: Examine the effects of maturation on single leg jumping performance in elite male youth soccer players.

DESIGN: Cross sectional.

SETTING: Academy soccer clubs.

PARTICIPANTS: 347 male youth players classified as either pre, circa or post-peak height velocity (PHV).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Single leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ) height, peak vertical landing forces (pVGRF), knee valgus and trunk side flexion.

RESULTS: Vertical jump height and absolute pVGRF increased with each stage of maturation (p < 0.001; d = 0.85-2.35). Relative to body weight, significantly higher landing forces were recorded on the left leg in circa versus post-PHV players (p < 0.05; d = -0.40). Knee valgus reduced with maturation but the only notable between-group differences were shown in post-PHV players (p < 0.05; d = 0.67); however, greater ipsilateral lateral trunk flexion angles was also present and these differences were significantly increased relative to circa-PHV players (p < 0.05; d = 0.85).

CONCLUSION: Periods of rapid growth are associated with landing kinetics which may heighten injury risk. While reductions in knee valgus were displayed with maturation; a compensatory strategy of greater trunk lateral flexion was evident in post-PHV players and this may increase the risk of injury.