key: cord-0952534-y2rcl594 authors: Campa, Francesco; Greco, Gianpiero title: Growth, Somatic Maturation, and Their Impact on Physical Health and Sports Performance: An Editorial date: 2022-01-24 journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031266 sha: a537ae521655416793358b4371771c312f645fcb doc_id: 952534 cord_uid: y2rcl594 Over time, complex interactions and a nonlinear progression among a wide range of variables contribute to the improvement of physical health and of the elite level achievement in youth sport practitioners [...]. . List of papers published in this Special Issue of IJERPH entitled Growth, Somatic Maturation, and Their Impact on Physical Health and Sports Performance [10] . Concerning physical and sports performance, Silva et al. [11] revealed that chronological age plays a determinant effect on vertical jump, linear sprint, and change of direction, revealing that older soccer players achieve better performance. On the contrary, playing position is not determined by age. Different player roles in youth basketball players were considered in the study of Ivanovic and co-workers [12] . The authors showed that (i) change of direction speed is the highest-ranked characteristic in basketball guards; (ii) jump performance is the highest-ranked feature in forwards; (iii) control of specific movements while dribbling the ball is the higher-ranked aspect in centers. Lastly, Ha et al. [13] demonstrated that neurocognitive function tests should not be used to predict lower extremity injuries in collegiate athletes. Most of the papers published in this Special Issue focus on body composition, growth, and sports practice. In fact, body composition assessment is an important practice in sports management [22, 23] , given its numerous implications on the health and physical performance of youth subjects [24] . Obesity, child motor development, and physical fitness are influenced by socioeconomic status. In fact, Africa et al. [14] showed that in contrast to Western countries, children with lower socioeconomic status are leaner with a lower body fat and have better locomotor skills compared to their higher socioeconomic status peers in South Africa. Slankamenac et al. [16] provided specific somatotype profiles for Montenegrin karatekas, highlighting the peculiarities in body shape among different age and weight categories. Similarly, Penichet-Tomas et al. [17] published anthropometric references for male and female traditional rowers. The effect of age on body composition was also evaluated by Cattem and colleagues [18] in male and female athletes, who Most of the papers published in this Special Issue focus on body composition, growth, and sports practice. In fact, body composition assessment is an important practice in sports management [22, 23] , given its numerous implications on the health and physical performance of youth subjects [24] . Obesity, child motor development, and physical fitness are influenced by socioeconomic status. In fact, Africa et al. [14] showed that in contrast to Western countries, children with lower socioeconomic status are leaner with a lower body fat and have better locomotor skills compared to their higher socioeconomic status peers in South Africa. Slankamenac et al. [16] provided specific somatotype profiles for Montenegrin karatekas, highlighting the peculiarities in body shape among different age and weight categories. Similarly, Penichet-Tomas et al. [17] published anthropometric references for male and female traditional rowers. The effect of age on body composition was also evaluated by Cattem and colleagues [18] in male and female athletes, who reported that subjects older than 13 years exhibited high fluid content and cell mass using qualitative and quantitative bioimpedance-based assessments. These data should be carefully considered in when developing training programs and talent selection procedures. In addition, Athayde et al. [15] reported that age at menarche and somatic growth are the primary indicators of physical performance in young female judo athletes. Only one study examined the difficulties of running online physical education classes in the context of COVID-19 and used the findings to develop an efficient operation plan to address these difficulties [19] . The authors suggested that changes in strategic learning methods are needed to understand online physical education characteristics and thereby better communicate the value of physical education. They reported that it is necessary to cultivate teaching expertise through sharing online physical education classes, where collaboration among physical education teachers is central. In addition, the authors suggested that the evaluation processes should be less formal to encourage active student participation. Two studies concerned resistance training practice and its effect on muscle strength and blood pressure in adolescents and young adults. Gullielm et al. [20] systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the current evidence for the effects of resistance training on blood pressure in children and adolescents, concluding that this kind of exercise has no adverse effects on blood pressure and may positively affect it in youths. Lastly, Nunes et al. [21] suggested that biceps brachii muscle adaptations following a 10-week training program is almost identical regardless of whether peak torque emphasis was carried out in the final degrees or initial degrees of the range of motion in young adults. In conclusion, as well as growth and development impacting children's sporting experience and physical characteristics, sports practice can also impact children's development and performance. This Special Issue reveals that the evolution of a healthy and successful athlete has a multifaceted nature and that several evaluation and training strategies are currently available to practitioners. Structural and functional body components in athletic health and performance phenotypes Functional Movement Patterns and Body Composition of High-Level Volleyball, Soccer, and Rugby Players The Role of Somatic Maturation on Bioimpedance Patterns and Body Composition in Male Elite Youth Soccer Players When does the influence of maturation on anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics increase and subside? Scand The burden of injuries according to maturity status and timing: A two-decade study with 110 growth curves in an elite football academy Differences in Maturity and Anthropometric and Morphological Characteristics among Young Male Basketball and Soccer Players and Non-Players Maturity Related Differences in Body Composition Assessed by Classic and Specific Bioimpedance Vector Analysis among Male Elite Youth Soccer Players Association between Exercise-Induced Changes in Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Adiposity among Overweight and Obese Youth: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression Analysis A 47-Year Comparison of Lower Body Muscular Power in Spanish Boys: A Short Report Special Issue "Growth, Somatic Maturation and Their Impact on Physical Health and Sports Performance Variations of the Locomotor Profile, Sprinting, Changeof-Direction, and Jumping Performances in Youth Soccer Players: Interactions between Playing Positions and Age-Groups Specific Physical Ability Prediction in Youth Basketball Players According to Playing Position Can Neurocognitive Function Predict Lower Extremity Injuries in Male Collegiate Athletes? The Influence of Cultural Experiences on the Associations between Socio-Economic Status and Motor Performance as Well as Body Fat Percentage of Grade One Learners in Cape Town, South Africa Body Size Measurements and Physical Performance of Youth Female Judo Athletes with Differing Menarcheal Status Somatotype Profiles of Montenegrin Karatekas: An Observational Study Analysis of Anthropometric and Body Composition Profile in Male and Female Traditional Rowers Bioimpedance Vector Patterns according to Age and Handgrip Strength in Adolescent Male and Female Athletes Difficulties of Online Physical Education Classes in Middle and High School and an Efficient Operation Plan to Address Them The Effects of Resistance Training on Blood Pressure in Preadolescents and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Placing Greater Torque at Shorter or Longer Muscle Lengths? Effects of Cable vs. Barbell Preacher Curl Training on Muscular Strength and Hypertrophy in Young Adults Body Water Content and Morphological Characteristics Modify Bioimpedance Vector Patterns in Volleyball, Soccer, and Rugby Players Assessment of Body Composition in Athletes: A Narrative Review of Available Methods with Special Reference to Quantitative and Qualitative Bioimpedance Analysis Anthropometric and Physical Qualities of Elite Male Youth Rugby League Players Data Availability Statement: Not applicable. The authors declare no conflict of interest.