Determining Criterion-Referenced Standards for physical fitness tests of youth soccer players
Cho Chang Yong Advisor : Prof. Lee Gee Bong, Ph.D. Department of Physical Education, Graduate School of Chosun University
This study aims to diagnose the c...
Determining Criterion-Referenced Standards for physical fitness tests of youth soccer players
Cho Chang Yong Advisor : Prof. Lee Gee Bong, Ph.D. Department of Physical Education, Graduate School of Chosun University
This study aims to diagnose the current status of youth soccer in South Korea, which is undergoing a rapid transition from school-based athletic departments to a sports club-based system, and to establish and validate the minimum physical fitness criteria (Cut-off scores) required for youth club players. While elite athlete development systems are shifting toward advanced club-centered models as modern sports emerge as a key mechanism for economic and social integration, the field faces structural limitations, such as uniform evaluation methods that overlook individual differences in physical development and the fragmentation of data during school transitions or club transfers. In particular, as physical training hours have decreased compared to the previous school-based system, the need for Evidence-Based Training (EBT) has become more critical than ever. To overcome these data gaps and the limitations of subjective evaluation, this study examined the importance of building a Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model utilizing the integrated management system of Regional Sport Science Centers. To accommodate the complex physical development characteristics of youth, this study moved away from the rank-oriented Norm-Referenced Standard (NRS) and reviewed the Criterion-Referenced Standard (CRS) approach, which provides absolute performance criteria based on age and gender. An empirical method of statistically analyzing actual measurement data was applied to establish cut-off scores, and decision validity was ensured through sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy analysis using a confusion matrix. The cut-off scores for each physical fitness factor derived through this study provide youth players with specific growth goals and offer coaches a scientific foundation for determining training intensity and methods based on objective indicators. In conclusion, this data-driven management system is expected to prevent the risks of overuse injuries and premature retirement, contribute to the long-term cultivation of talented players, and ultimately drive the qualitative growth of the youth soccer system in South Korea.
Keywords: youth soccer, sports club, Criterion-Referenced Standard (CRS), cut-off score, Regional Sport Science Center, Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD)