Abstract

Aim

The aim of the present study was to compare the Preece–Baines 1 (PB1) model fit between longitudinal and cross-sectional data in male soccer players and to adjust the height growth curve by maturity status.

Methods

A final sample of 57 male Portuguese soccer players from professional soccer academies was included. Longitudinal height records were measured between 8 and 17 times in each subject from 2–8 years to 14–17 years. Additionally, longitudinal height records were used as cross-sectional data along with 1087 cross-sectional height records taken from 602 Portuguese soccer players. Skeletal age was estimated by Tanner-Whitehouse III method from a left hand–wrist radiograph. Age at peak height velocity (PHV) was estimated by PB1 model for longitudinal and cross-sectional data and by maturity status.

Results

No significant differences were found between all the longitudinal estimates of 57 players and the random cross-sectional samples for, S1 parameter and for growth velocity at PHV, at TO, and for age at PHV. The age at PHV in early, on-time, and late maturers were 12.26, 12.9, and 13.58 years, respectively.

Conclusion

PB1 adjusted the height growth of Portuguese male soccer players from cross-sectional data, obtaining an estimate PHV very similar to that found from longitudinal data. A maturity time difference of ≈0.6 years was found between the age at PHV of on-time, early, and on-time and late maturity state.