Explaining the performance of talented youth speed skaters

This research investigated whether it is possible to explain the performance of talented youth speed skaters between the age of 15 to 20 years. Multidimensional performance characteristics were compared with the speed skating performance on separate distances (500 m, 1.000 m, 1.500 m and 3.000 m) and the allround performance, in the season of 2009-2010. Eight athletes from the Dutch national youth speed skating team (18-19 year old), along with 20 talented athletes from the Dutch district teams (15- 17 year old) were included. Multidimensional performance characteristics consisted of anthropometrical, physiological, technical and psychological characteristics. Partial correlations were calculated between each performance characteristic and the speed skating performance, while controlling for gender and age. For the 500 m, jump height, measured as a squat jump (r=-.664) and countermovement jump (r=-.619), and the technique of the speed skaters (r=-.500) was found to be an explanation of the performance. For the 1.000 m this was only jump height, measured as a squat jump (r=-.555) and countermovement jump (r=-.491). The speed skating performance on the longer distances (1.500 m and 3.000 m) were found to be significantly related with evaluation (r=-.420 and r=-.481) and anaerobic power (r=.409 with the 3.000 m). The allround speed skating performance was significantly related with jump height, measured as a squat jump (r=-.406) and related with the technique (r=-.541). It can be concluded that explaining the performance of talented youth speed skaters is difficult. Nevertheless, this study reveals that jump height and technique seem to be important prerequisites for almost all distances.