Age-related differences and normative values in motor performance of youth ice hockey goaltenders

Abstract

Background: Motor performance evolves throughout childhood and adolescence, especially in sports that demand explosive power, rapid reaction, and flexibility. In ice hockey goaltending, these neuromuscular abilities are essential for efficient movement patterns, reflexive decision-making, and injury prevention. However, normative data specific to goaltenders remain limited evidence-based assessment and training practices. This study aimed to examine age-related differences in key motor performance tests and establish age-specific normative standards for youth ice hockey goaltenders. Methods: Twenty-two male goaltenders were stratified into three age groups: U9–U11 (n = 11), U13–U15 (n = 6), and U18–U20 (n = 5). All participants completed a battery of seven field-based motor tests evaluating explosive power (standing long jump, standing vertical jump), speed and coordination (upper and lower limb tapping tests), reaction time (mean of 10 trials), and flexibility (side split distance and sit-and-reach). One-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD post-hoc tests were used to compare group differences, and Pearson’s correlations assessed inter-test relationships. Normative percentile bands were constructed for each age group. Results: Significant differences between age groups were observed in five out of the seven tests (ANOVA p < 0.01 for each), whereas no significant group difference was found in the side split flexibility test (p = 0.73). In general, the oldest goaltenders (U18–U20) demonstrated the highest performance in explosive power and speed tasks. They achieved markedly greater jump distances (long jump and vertical jump) than younger groups (p < 0.001) and performed more hand and foot taps in 10 s than the youngest group (p < 0.01). Reaction times improved (decreased) with age: both the oldest and middle groups reacted significantly faster than the youngest group (p < 0.01). In contrast, flexibility outcomes showed a different pattern. There were no significant differences between groups in the side split test (side split distance ~21–27 cm for all, p = 0.735). For the sit-and-reach test, the older goaltenders exhibited significantly greater trunk flexibility than the youngest group (p = 0.010). Conclusion: This study provides novel age-specific reference standards for motor abilities in youth goaltenders and confirms that explosive power, coordination, and reaction time improve significantly with age. Trunk flexibility, as measured by the sit-and-reach test, also increased during adolescence, in contrast to typical expectations. The findings offer a practical framework for talent identification, training individualization, and long-term athletic development in ice hockey.