Stance phase characteristics of age group soccer players in different speeds of gait

Considering the direct relationship between playing soccer and walking and running at different speeds, recognizing various running patterns plays a major role in prescribing better training programs and improvement of the athletes’ performance in different age groups. The purpose of the present study was to register the characteristics of stance phase in soccer players in different age groups and finding probable differences. 58 amateur football players of Sepahan Football Academy in Mobarakeh city in 3 age groups of U-13, U-15 and U-17 participated in this study. The players performed the test at 4 different tasks of walking, jogging, running in self-selected speed, and sprinting barefooted on a straight path that a foot scan was mounted in the midway. The results of this study showed that in general, the progression angle decreases by aging and increases by the speed. Regarding the timing of sub-phases, the results showed difference between groups of different age groups. The results also showed that the timing differs in sub-phases in different speeds. These findings could be useful in prescribing suitable running patterns in running trainings for age group soccer instructors.