ISSN 2992-7048
RMCCF 2025, Volumen 5, Número 11.
DOI: 10.54167/rmccf.v5i11.1932
https://vocero.uach.mx/index.php/rmccf
Articulo Original
Positional Differences in Physical, Maturational, and Performance
Characteristics of Recreational Football Players
Características Físicas, de Maduración y Rendimiento Según la Posición en Jugadores
de Fútbol Recreativo
Pablo Miguel Anaya Ortiz1, Arturo Osorio Gutiérrez1, Abril Gómez Llanes1, José Fernando Lozoya Villegas1, Eddy
Jacobb Tolano Fierros1, Uriel Zúñiga Galaviz2
1 Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora
2 Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez
Abstract
Introduction: Youth football presents considerable variation in players’ physical and maturational
profiles, which may influence their performance and positional assignment on the field. Aim: To examine
the physical, maturational, and performance characteristics of recreational youth football players across
playing positions. Methodology: A total of 58 male players aged 12.9 ± 1.62 years participated in the
study. Players were grouped according to their playing position (Center-Backs, Full-Backs, Center-
Midfielders, Wide-Players, and Forwards). Anthropometric variables (height, body mass, and sitting
height) were measured using standardized protocols, and biological maturation was assessed using
maturity offset and predicted age at peak height velocity. Performance metrics included squat jump (SJ),
countermovement jump (CMJ), and sprint times over 10 and 30 meters. Data were standardized using Z-
scores to account for age-related differences, and statistical comparisons were made using ANOVA.
Results: Center-Backs outperformed other positions in SJ and 30-meter sprint performance. In contrast,
no positional differences were identified in CMJ or 10-meter sprint times. Conclusions: The findings
suggest a maturity-related positional allocation bias, with more physically mature players being assigned
to positions such as Center-Backs in recreational soccer.
Keywords: soccer; adolescent; physical performance; growth and development; motor activity
Resumen
Introducción: En el fútbol juvenil se ha observado consistentemente una variabilidad en los perfiles
físicos y de maduración de los jugadores, lo cual puede influir en su rendimiento y en la asignación de
su posición en el campo. Objetivo: Examinar las características físicas, de maduración y de rendimiento
de jugadores de fútbol juvenil recreativo según su posición de juego. Metodología: Participaron en el
estudio 58 jugadores varones con una edad de 12,9 ± 1,62 años. Se agruparon de acuerdo a su posición de
juego en defensas centrales, laterales, mediocentros, extremos y delanteros. Se midieron variables
antropométricas (estatura, masa corporal y talla sentado) siguiendo protocolos estandarizados, y la
maduración biológica se evaluó mediante el maturity offset y la edad predicha en el pico de velocidad de
crecimiento. Las variables de rendimiento incluyen el salto en cuclillas (SJ), el salto con contramovimiento
(CMJ) y los tiempos de sprint a 10 y 30 metros. Los datos se estandarizaron mediante puntuaciones Z
para ajustar las diferencias relacionadas con la edad, y las comparaciones estadísticas entre las posiciones
de juego se realizaron mediante ANOVA. Resultados: Los defensas centrales superaron al resto de
posiciones en el SJ y en la prueba de sprint de 30 metros. En cambio, no se detectaron diferencias
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posicionales en el CMJ ni en los tiempos de sprint a 10 metros. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos sugieren un
sesgo en la asignación posicional vinculado al estado de maduración, de manera que los jugadores con
mayor desarrollo físico tienden a desempeñarse como defensas centrales, incluso desde etapas de fútbol
recreativo.
Palabras clave: fútbol; adolescente; rendimiento físico; crecimiento y desarrollo; actividad motora
Cómo Citar: Anaya-Ortiz, P. M., Osorio-Gutiérrez, A., Gómez-Llanes, A., Lozoya-Villegas, J. F.,
Tolano Fierros, E. J., Zúñiga-Galaviz, U. (2025). Positional Differences in Physical, Maturational,
and Performance Characteristics of Recreational Football Players. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias
de la Cultura Física, 5(11). https://doi.org/10.54167/rmccf.v5i11.1932.
Recibido: Mayo 2025 Aceptado: Julio 2025 Publicado: Septiembre 2025
Introduction
The specialization of roles across playing positions in soccer, leads to
distinct physical attributes among players. Studies on professional adults and
elite-level youth players have demonstrated that Goalkeepers (GK) and Center
Backs (CB) are systematically taller and heavier than their teammates in other
positions (Sporiš, G. et al., 2009). This specialization is driven by the specific
demands of each role. For instance, goalkeepers benefit from height and reach
for covering the goal, while center backs utilize their size and strength for aerial
duels and defensive plays.
In young elite soccer players, it has also been reported that GK and CB are
taller and heavier, and notably more advanced in maturity status compared to
players in other positions (Towlson, C., et al., 2017). Beyond body size, a more
advanced maturation is associated with greater physical performance, such as
explosive strength in the lower limb muscles (Yapıcı, H., et al., 2022), which is
a determinant factor in soccer (Xu, Z., 2023). These physical and performance
attributes may influence coaches' decisions when assigning players to specific
positions.
However, if in the earliest stages of sport formation, players are allocated
to a determined position considering only their physique, regardless of their
biological maturation and other skills that justify their assignment in that
specific position, the long-term sport development of the players could be
limited (Towlson et al., 2019).
Maturity status varies greatly, and physical differences in youth may be
transitory (Malina, R. M. et al., 2004); players who, at a given moment, present
superior physical attributes associated with an early maturity status may not
maintain their relative advantages as their peers catch up later (Meylan, C. et
al., 2010).
Although the relationship between maturity status and positional
allocation has been well-documented in elite youth players (Towlson et al.,
2019; Altmann, S. et al., 2021), there is limited data available regarding
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recreational soccer. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the
physical, maturational, and performance characteristics of recreational football
players by playing position.
Methods
Participants
A total of 58 soccer players, aged 12.9 ± 1.62 years, from the municipal
soccer league of Cajeme, Sonora, Mexico, participated in the study. The sample
included players from the following age categories: U-11 (n=8), U-12 (n=14), U-
13 (n=14), U-14 (n=5), U-15 (n=11), and U-16 (n=9).
The teams to which the players belonged trained twice a week and played
one match per week. None of the players were part of any selection team or
trained at a competitive level.
Soccer players were grouped according to their playing position in Center-
Backs (n=9), Full-Backs (n=9), Center-Midfielders (n=15), Wide-Players (n=14),
and Forwards (n=11).
All participants, at the moment of the study, had attained at least one year
of uninterrupted formal training in their respective club. Soccer players were
informed about the procedures of the study and, if they agreed to participate,
signed an information letter. Parents and coaches were present during the
explanation session. Once soccer players accepted to participate, parents or
legal tutors-guardians, if they agree, signed a consent letter where the
objectives, procedures, potential risks, and benefits of the study were clearly
explained. The procedures of the present study were followed according to the
Helsinki declaration.
Players that presented an injury that prevented normal participation in
training or matches at the moment of the study were excluded. Owing to low
representation in the sample, goalkeepers were not considered in the present
study.
Anthropometric variables
Height, Body Mass, and Sitting Height were measured using standardized
protocols. Height was assessed with a portable stadiometer (SECA 213,
Hanover, MD, USA) with an accuracy of 0.1 cm; players standing barefoot,
heels together, and heads in the Frankfurt plane. Body mass was recorded
using a calibrated digital scale (SECA 770, Hanover, MD, USA) with an
accuracy of 0.1 kg, with players weighed barefoot and in light clothing. Sitting
height was also measured with the SECA 213 stadiometer, following the same
protocol as standing height; players sat with their backs straight and feet flat
on the ground, and measurements were taken from the surface of the
anthropometric bench to the top of the head.
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Maturation
Maturity offset (MO) and Predicted Age at Peak Height Velocity (PHV)
were considered to assess the biological maturation status of soccer players.
The method proposed by Mirwald et al. (2002) was employed to calculate MO.
This approach uses sex-specific regression equations that incorporate three key
anthropometric variables (height, sitting height, and leg length), chronological
age (CA), and the interaction between these dimensions and CA.
Anthropometric measurements were taken once and applied to the
corresponding equations to determine each player's MO. The Predicted Age at
PHV was then calculated as:
Predicted Age at PHV= Chronological Age (CA) −Maturity Offset (MO)
Performance tests
Vertical jumps (SJ and CMJ) and Speed over 10 and 30 meters were
assessed using standardized protocols (Bosco et al., 1983). The Squat Jump (SJ)
and Countermovement Jump (CMJ) were measured with an AXON JUMP C
contact platform (AXON Sports, Argentina). For the SJ, players started
statically with hands on their hips, while the CMJ involved a rapid downward
movement before jumping. Two attempts were allowed for each jump, with
60-second rests, and the best height was recorded to the nearest 0.1 cm. Speed
was evaluated using MICROGATE – KIT WITTY Sportmaster photoelectric
cells (Microgate, Italy), with players sprinting from a static position. Two
attempts were allowed for 10 and 30 meters, with 2-minute rests, and the best
time for each distance was recorded to the nearest 0.01 seconds.
Análisis de datos
Al examinar los datos cualitativos derivados de las entrevistas
semiestructuradas, se empleó el software ATLAS.ti, que mejoró la
organización, la codificación y la interpretación de las narrativas
proporcionadas por los participantes. Se implementó una metodología de
codificación abierta, que permitió identificar las categorías emergentes que se
alinean con los objetivos de la investigación. Posteriormente, se utilizó la
codificación axial para delinear las relaciones entre las categorías lo que facilitó
una comprensión más profunda de las experiencias articuladas por los
participantes (Herbest et al., 2024). Este marco analítico promovió la detección
de patrones, similitudes y discrepancias en las experiencias relacionadas con la
adquisición de la LSM, lo que arrojó pruebas sustanciales para la interpretación
de los resultados de la investigación.
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Statistical analysis
Descriptive statistics was performed to obtain means and standard
deviations of the anthropometric, maturation and performance variables from
the total sample and for each playing position group.
For all variables (anthropometric, maturation, and performance), the Z-
score of each individual was calculated based on their age category. This
standardization enabled comparisons between playing position groups
composed of players from different age categories.
The Z-score was calculated using the formula:
Z = Xi – Xage/SDage
In this equation, Xi represents the observed value of the variable for an
individual within the study. The term Xage refers to the mean value of the
variable for the individual’s specific age category, calculated across all
participants in that group. Similarly, SDage corresponds to the standard
deviation of the variable for the same age category.
The normality of the data was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and
the homogeneity of variances was evaluated with Levene’s test. After
confirming that the data followed a parametric distribution, an ANOVA was
conducted to compare the anthropometric, maturation, and performance
variables among playing position groups.
All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software
(version 22).
Results
Descriptive statistics for the total sample are presented in Table 1,
including age, APHV, MO, height, body mass, and physical performance
outcomes. The average age was 12.93 years, with an APHV of 14.58 years and
a maturity offset of -1.65 years. Participants' mean height was 155.4 cm, and
their average body mass was 45.87 kg. The mean of squat jump and
countermovement jump were 29.41 cm and 30.55 cm, respectively, while sprint
times for the 10 m and 30 m distances were 2.01 and 5.02 seconds.
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Significant differences in APHV and maturity offset across player
positions are shown in Table 2. ANOVA revealed significant differences in
APHV (F = 3.04, p = 0.02), with center-backs exhibiting the earliest APHV.
Table 1
Anthropometric Characteristics, Maturity Indicators,
and Physical Performance of the Total Sample
(n=58)
Ẋ
±
SD
Max
Age (yr)
12.93
±
1.62
15.96
APHV (yr)
14.58
±
0.58
15.83
MO
-1.65
±
1.36
0.92
Height (cm)
155.4
±
10.84
172.40
Body Mass (kg)
45.87
±
10.72
75.60
SJ (cm)
29.41
±
5.62
45.30
CMJ (cm)
30.55
±
5.72
47.70
Sprint 10m (sec)
2.01
±
0.14
2.34
Sprint 30m (sec)
5.02
±
0.42
5.98
APHV: Age at peak height velocity, MO:Maturity Offset,
SJ: Squat Jump, CMJ Countermovement Jump, Vel.:
Velocity, yr: year, cm: centimeters, kg: kilograms
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Table 2
Mean, and Standard Deviation, of Age, APHV and Maturity Offset and
Z Scores of APHV by Player Position
Center-Backs (CB)
(n=9)
Full-Backs (FB)
(n=9)
Center-Midfielders
(CM) (n=15)
Wide-Players (WP)
(n=14)
Forwards (FW)
(n=11)
ANOVA
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
F
Sig.
Age (yr)
12.76
±
1.69
12.64
±
1.94
12.81
±
1.42
13.11
±
1.90
13.24
±
1.38
APHV (yr)
14.09a*
±
0.53
-0.75
14.32
±
0.70
-0.45
14.82
±
0.54
0.39
14.62
±
0.40
0.24
14.83
±
0.51
0.29
3.04
0.02
MO
-1.33
±
1.42
-1.67
±
1.52
-2.01
±
1.22
-1.51
±
1.57
-1.58
±
1.24
APHV: Age at peak height velocity, MO: Maturity Offset, yr: year.
a: CB < FB, CM, WP, FWD.
*: p<0.05.
As summarized in Table 3, significant differences in anthropometric
characteristics were observed by player position. Significant differences were
found in height (F = 7.199, p = 0.00) and body mass (F = 6.187, p = 0.00), with
center-backs being taller and heavier than players in other positions. BMI also
differed significantly across positions (F = 2.528, p = 0.05), with center-backs
having the highest BMI.
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Physical performance measures across the player positions are presented
in Table 4. ANOVA revealed significant differences in countermovement jump
(CMJ) (F = 3.105, p = 0.02) and 30 m sprint time (F = 3.107, p = 0.02). For CMJ,
forwards showed the highest performance (31.90 ± 4.74 cm), while wide-players
had the lowest (28.09 ± 3.18 cm). The fastest 30 m sprint times were recorded by
forwards (4.84 ± 0.57 sec), while center-backs had the slowest times (5.05 ± 0.54
sec). No significant differences were found for 10 m sprint time.
Table 4
Mean, Standard Deviation, Z Scores, and ANOVA of Physical Performance
Variables by Player Position
Center-Backs (CB)
(n=9)
Full-Backs (FB)
(n=9)
Center-
Midfielders(CM)
(n=15)
Wide-Players (WP)
(n=14)
Forwards (FW)
(n=11)
ANOVA
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
Ẋ
±
SD
Z
score
F
Sig.
33.5
a***
±
5.31
0.98
27.80
±
9.08
-0.34
27.50
±
3.40
-0.46
29.01
±
4.03
-0-06
30.23
±
5.19
0.07
3.823
0.00
34.13
b**
±
6.32
0.83
28.85
±
9.21
-0.37
28.09
±
3.18
-0.50
30.58
±
3.93
0.05
31.90
±
4.74
0.16
3.105
0.02
1.99
±
0.17
-0.49
2.08
±
0.12
0.50
2.03
±
0.13
0.16
1.95
±
0.13
-0.58
2.05
±
0.17
0.32
2.077
0.10
5.05
a*
±
0.54
-0.71
4.95
±
0.38
-0.08
5.14
±
0.25
0.40
4.84
±
0.57
-0.27
5.12
±
0.26
0.52
3.107
0.02
cm: centimeters, sec: seconds
a: CB > FB, CM, WP, FWD; b: CB > FB, CM, WP.
*: p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001
Discussion
The aim of the present study was to examine the physical, maturational,
and performance characteristics of recreational football players across
positions. Results confirmed a bias in position allocation with Center-Backs
(CB) exhibiting larger body size and superior lower-limb muscle power, which
were associated with an earlier maturity status compared to Full-Backs (FB),
Center-Midfielders (CM), Wide-Players (WP), and Forwards (FW).
In the present study, CB were taller and heavier than players in other
positions (see Table 3). This physical distinction gives them an advantage in
scenarios requiring strength and physical presence, both of which are essential
for a defensive role (Sporiš, G., et al., 2009).
Adolescence is characterized by considerable variation in the timing and
rate of maturation, leading to pronounced differences in physique based on
maturity status (Malina RM, et al., 2015; Towlson, C., et al., 2018). In line with
this variability, a study on elite soccer players (n=465) from U13 to U18
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analyzed the impact of relative age, anthropometry, maturation, and physical
fitness on playing positions. The study found that Central Defenders and
Goalkeepers were taller and heavier than players in other positions at all
category groups. Additionally, at U13–14, they exhibited advanced maturation
(Towlson, C. et al., 2017). In the referenced study, the larger body size
associated with advanced maturity may have influenced the assignment to
defensive positions. Similarly, our results showed that CB tended to be more
physically mature than players in other positions (see table 2). This suggests
that maturity status may influence position allocation, regardless of
competition level.
Player positioning in soccer is often influenced by a coach’s perspective
rather than a standardized, systematic approach (Alarcón Rodrigo, J., 2018). A
well-considered allocation of positions, however, can enhance player
development by exposing them to different roles and responsibilities, fostering
a more comprehensive skill set and improving overall performance (González-
Ródenas et al., 2024). In the present study, it is possible that CB were assigned
to this position by a coach or coaches who recognized only their physical
advantage. While physical attributes are important in defense, an optimal
selection process would also consider essential technical and tactical skills such
as anticipation, field vision, passing precision, and leadership (Oneda et al.,
2022; Clemente et al., 2022; Pfeiffer et al., 2025; Vidigal et al., 2022).
Furthermore, allocating players with a larger physique in defensive roles,
specifically as center-backs, without considering their maturation status can
have long-term drawbacks. The advantages provided by their advanced
maturation status (such as greater body size, higher speed, and explosive
strength) may be temporary, as their less mature counterparts could eventually
catch up in terms of biological maturation.
CBs showed significantly higher Z-scores than other position players in the
Squat Jump (SJ), but in the Countermovement Jump (CMJ), they only
surpassed CM and FB. These discrepancies likely exist in part due to the
specific characteristics of each Jump (Pazar, 2012). The SJ tests direct concentric
force production from a static position, thereby emphasizing lower-limb
strength and excluding the assistance of elastic energy (Almutairi & Singh,
2022). The CMJ uses the stretch-shortening cycle as the mode of contraction to
help with the elastic energy of a muscle and enhance its efficiency (Santos et
al., 2024). Possibly, the greater height, and the greater muscle mass associated
with the more advanced maturity status of the CB, contributes to generate
absolute strength which better relates to performances in SJ; by contrast, in
CMJ, the coordination and the effective use of elastic energy seem to downplay
positional differences.
The differing tactical demands of forwards, midfielders, and central
defenders may partially explain the SJ and CMJ results. FW and midfield
players frequently engage in dynamic movements, rapid changes of direction,
and precise ball control, all of which contribute to neuromuscular coordination
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(Alanen et al., 2023; Gee et al., 2020; Rouissi et al., 2018). This enhanced
coordination may provide an advantage in the CMJ, where performance
depends on the efficient synchronization of muscle contractions and elastic
energy utilization. However, further research is required to directly assess
neuromuscular coordination differences across playing positions and their
impact on jump performance.
It is not surprising that CB in the present study outperformed other
positions in the 30-meter sprint test (see Z score in table 4), as sprint
performance is well-documented to be significantly influenced by maturity
status, with early-maturing athletes achieving superior results (Lehnert, M., et
al., 2024). Similar to the SJ, greater body size and muscle mass likely contribute
positively to sprint performance (Sudlow et al., 2024). On the other hand, no
significant differences were found in the 10-meter sprint test among positions
(see table 4). This test may not be sensitive enough to detect differences
between players at this recreational level of competition. Similarly, when
young elite soccer players are compared to sub-elite players, differences in this
test are minimal, favoring the former (Haugen et al., 2014).
An appropriate playing position allocation may have implications beyond
the sport performance. Continuity in sport participation depends on various
factors, one of the most significant being how individuals perceive their own
abilities and progress (Santos, L., et al., 2011). A proper position assignment
allows players to maximize their strengths and feel more capable within their
role which can enhance their long-term engagement and satisfaction with the
sport.
Sports clubs should emphasize a philosophy that prioritizes the long-term
development of football players over the pursuit of immediate success without
considering its broader implications. Additionally, ongoing coach education is
essential, as it can help reduce biases in player positioning and other factors
that impact player development and participation.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that recreational football Center-Backs display
greater body size, advanced maturity, and lower levels of lower-limb strength
compared to players in other positions, consistent with patterns observed at
the elite level. However, these physical advantages may be associated with
early maturation rather than inherent positional superiority. These findings
underscore the importance of coaches avoiding premature specialization,
allowing players to develop holistically and mitigating the potential risks of
early maturation bias.
Limitations of the study
Although the study provides valuable insights into player characteristics,
such as anthropometric traits, physical performance, and maturation, it is not
without limitations. The small sample size and the uneven distribution of
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players across age categories and positions may have constrained the statistical
power and generalizability of the findings. Additionally, while the use of Z-
scores for standardization facilitates comparisons across age groups, it may not
have fully captured the nuanced differences between positions within each
category. Future research should aim to include larger, more balanced samples
and employ additional statistical methods to better identify variations among
playing positions in recreational soccer players. Furthermore, alternative
approaches to assessing biological maturation, as skeletal age, should be
explored to enhance the robustness of the analysis.
Conflicts of interest
Authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the ITSON PROFAPI
2024 program in facilitating the study's development and execution.
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