Development of Juvenile Sprint Performance in Boys: Analysis of Speed Phases – A Cross-Sectional Study by Age

Simon Bleeker¹Maximilian Siener^2*

• ¹Department of Performance Diagnostics and Training Control, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
• ²Department of Neuromotorics and Movement, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany

Sprinting speed is critical in athletic performance and talent identification, particularly in children and adolescents. While speed is often treated as a singular quality, it is made up of different phases, each governed by distinct physiological and biomechanical abilities. This cross-sectional study analyzed sprint phases—acceleration, maximum velocity (Vmax), and deceleration—across age groups (U12–U20) to provide a detailed understanding of sprint progression during growth. A total of 117 boys aged 12–19 years (14.57 ± 2.20 years) performed maximum-effort 100-meter sprints, with velocity data recorded using a laser distance meter operating at 100 Hz. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in sprint performance across age groups, with improvements in acceleration and Vmax phases but a substantial reduction in deceleration distance with age. The acceleration phase distance increased from 18.8 m in U12 to 24.1 m in U20, while the deceleration phase decreased from 52.4 m to 22.3 m. The Vmax phase doubled, from 24.7 m in U12 to 47.3 m in U20. Multiple linear regression analyses identified the acceleration distance as a significant predictor of 100-meter sprint time (p < 0.001), with faster sprint times associated with prolonged acceleration phases. A nonlinear regression model was used to predict the Vmax based on age and 50-meter sprint time, yielding a strong coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.784). The study also provides practical tools for coaches to estimate Vmax and accelerative distance in boys, particularly in contexts with limited access to advanced measurement systems.