Wisła Kraków Football Academy constantly focuses on developing its young footballers and, in keeping with the times, is introducing an innovative approach to training young talent. Academy coach and scout Jacek Słowik, while conducting research for his doctoral thesis, is working with a scientific team from the University of Physical Education in Kraków on a unique research project aimed at developing methods for precisely adapting training to the individual needs of players, taking their biological age into account. To date, PHV tests have been conducted in the U-14 and U-13 teams.

“The idea for this project arose from the need to gain a deeper understanding of how individual biological differences affect the development of young players. Differences in biological age play a key role in the process of physical, psychomotor, and emotional maturation, which is why our research focuses on identifying these differences and developing methods that will allow coaches to precisely adapt training to each player’s abilities. Thanks to advanced anthropometric measurements, fitness tests, and psychological tools, we are able to monitor the boys’ progress more effectively, enabling us not only to optimize training loads but also to prevent overuse and injuries,” said coach Jacek Słowik.

As part of the project, the players underwent examinations involving anthropometric measurements, including measurements of length, breadth, body mass, body circumference, and skinfold thickness. In addition, using specialized equipment and the bioimpedance method, the researchers made 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 parents of the young players about their height, it became possible to estimate the boys’ adult height.

The players also took part in fitness tests, whose specifics were adapted to the discipline they practice. Next year, as part of the continuation of the project and in cooperation with the club psychologist, psychological tools such as the “emotional maturity assessment scale” and the “motivation assessment scale” will also be used in the studies. This data will help in understanding the psychological factors affecting the players’ athletic development.

The aforementioned studies, supplemented by a systematic review of the scientific literature, the introduction of appropriate analytical methods, and innovative diagnostic tools, provide detailed data on the players, not only in physical but also in psychological terms. This makes it possible to precisely monitor their progress, adjust training loads, and implement injury-prevention strategies, thereby helping to optimize their development.