ArticlePloS one2025
Effects of biobanding on training loads and technical performance of young football players.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The Effect of Bio-Banding On Talent Identification in Youth Soccer: A Systematic Review.Journal of sports science & medicine · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn adolescent sports, grouping by chronological age can advantage athletes born early in the year due to maturation differences. Early maturing athletes often achieve greater performance gains, are perceived as more talented, and receive more specialized training and workloads. This study aimed to assess the effects of biobanding on internal and external training loads, as well as technical performance during small-sided games (SSGs).
methodsTwenty male footballers (11.8 ± 1.15 years) participated in this study. Athletes engaged in small-sided games (SSGs) under two conditions: (1) CA-teams formed based on chronological age; and (2) BIO-teams formed based on age relative to peak height velocity (pre-PHV = -2.5 to -1.5, and PHV = -1.5 to -0.5). External load (ETL) was quantified using the PlayerLoad method, while internal load (ITL) was measured using both training impulse (TRIMP) and session-RPE. Player involvement was determined by summing all technical actions performed during the SSGs, with involvement in the game assessed through video analysis of the sessions.
resultsBIO games significantly increased ETL for pre-PHV (EM = 415.5; 95%CI = 381.5-449.5 a.u.) compared to the CA games (EM = 388.8; 95% CI = 354.8-422.8 a.u.). PHV players had lower ETL (EM = 354.4; 95% CI = 320.4-388.4 a.u.) in BIO compared to CA games (EM = 366.0; 95% CI = 332.0-400.0 a.u.). No significant ITL differences were observed. BIO lowered steals among pre-PHV players vs. CA.
conclusionBiobanded games significantly increased external load (ETL) for pre-PHV players; however, this increase was not substantial enough to affect internal load (as measured by session-RPE and TRIMP) or player involvement.
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