PHV tests in the training of young Wisła players

The Wisła Kraków Football Academy continually strives to develop its footballers, and as a result, in keeping up with the times, it is introducing an innovative approach to training young talent. While conducting research for his doctoral dissertation, Jacek Słowik, a coach and scout at the Academy, is conducting a unique research project with the scientific team from the Academy of Physical Education in Kraków. The aim is to develop methods for precisely tailoring training to the individual needs of players, taking into account their biological age. Previously, PHV tests were conducted on U-14 and U-13 teams.

"The idea for this project arose from the need to better understand how individual biological differences influence the development of young athletes. Differences in biological age play a key role in the process of physical, psychomotor, and emotional maturation, so our research focuses on identifying these differences and developing methods that will allow coaches to precisely tailor training to the abilities of each athlete. Thanks to advanced anthropometric measurements, fitness tests, and psychological tools, we are able to better monitor the boys' progress, allowing us not only to optimize training loads but also to prevent overload and injuries," said coach Jacek Słowik.

As part of the project, the players underwent anthropometric measurements, including length, width, body weight, body circumference, and skinfold measurements. Additionally, using specialized equipment and biompedance, the researchers obtained highly precise measurements of body fat, muscle mass and its distribution throughout the body, bone mass, and total body water. By supplementing these results with information obtained from the young players' parents regarding their height, it became possible to estimate the boys' future height.

The players also participated in fitness tests, with specific training tailored to their respective disciplines. Next year, as part of the project's continuation, psychological tools such as the "Emotional Maturity Assessment Scale" and the "Motivation Assessment Scale" will be used in the research, in collaboration with the club psychologist. This data will help us understand the psychological factors that influence players' athletic development.

These studies, supplemented by a systematic review of the scientific literature, the introduction of appropriate analytical methods, and innovative diagnostic tools, provide detailed data on athletes, not only physically but also psychologically. This allows for precise monitoring of their progress, adjustments to training loads, and the implementation of injury prevention strategies, which in turn contributes to optimizing their development.