Vertical Jump Performance and Its Relationship to Change-of-Direction and Sprint Speed in Elite U-20 Soccer Players

Vertical jump performance shows a much stronger statistical link to change-of-direction speed than to 30-meter average sprint speed among elite under-20 soccer players, according to a study published on Thursday in PLoS One.

Researchers evaluated forty-four male players from a professional Brazilian club during routine physical testing conducted between January 1, 2026, and June 1, 2026. The protocol measured squat jumps, countermovement jumps, relative power, 30-meter sprint speed, and side-specific change-of-direction performance using a force platform and electronic timing gates.

Vertical jump variables displayed moderate and inverse correlations with change-of-direction times to both the right and left sides. Those correlation coefficients ranged from -0.43 to -0.56. These figures indicate that athletes who achieved higher vertical jumps consistently posted faster times on directional shuttle tasks.

By contrast, associations between vertical jump performance and 30-meter average sprint speed proved weak to moderate. Researchers noted those linear speed relationships did not remain statistically significant after adjustments for multiple comparisons or after controlling for age, body mass, and height.

The study attributes this divergence to underlying mechanical constraints. Vertical jumping and rapid directional changes both require high lower-limb force production and eccentric-concentric control, whereas full-course 30-meter sprints blend initial acceleration phases with velocity-maintenance running.

Right-sided and left-sided change-of-direction performances showed a strong correlation with each other at 0.69, but the two sides were not entirely interchangeable. This outcome supports the continued use of bilateral assessments during routine athlete monitoring.

The study authors conclude that jump testing offers valuable insight into the neuromuscular qualities required for directional speed tasks. However, they emphasize that force platform assessments should complement rather than replace direct change-of-direction testing in high-performance soccer environments.

The deidentified dataset supporting these findings is accessible through Figshare under a public domain dedication.