A clear link between biological maturity and injury risk

“The injury risk of young football players depends more on their biological maturity than on their chronological age.”
This is the key finding of an international study conducted by FC Barcelona medical staff over three seasons, involving 354 players aged 7 to 18. The results show that two players competing in the same U15 category can display very different injury-risk profiles, depending on their stage of pubertal development. Players who are biologically more mature are significantly more exposed to muscle injuries, joint sprains and tendinous disorders. The study identifies the U14 to U16 age groups as periods of maximum vulnerability. At this stage, bone, muscle and tendon structures evolve rapidly, sometimes in an uncoordinated manner, while training intensity increases and competitive exposure rises. Shared by the Barça Innovation Hub, this research highlights three concrete recommendations for coaches, physical performance staff and academy directors : "Individualise training loads according to players’ biological maturity rather than chronological age, increase monitoring during peak growth periods, adapt athletic content (strength, speed, plyometrics) for early-maturing players, who are often exposed to the highest physical demands".