General descriptives of players.

Classifying athletes based on estimates of biological maturation (i.e., bio-banding) as a supplement to traditional age grouping has been shown to be a potential tool for enriching player development in team sports; however, bio-banding has not yet been evaluated in ice hockey. The primary aim was to investigate player experiences and coaches’ selection preferences in bio-banding versus age-banding in a group of 12-13-year-old (early growth spurt) male elite players (n = 69). We also examined the relationship between somatic maturity, expressed as a % predicted adult height (%PAH), and fitness performance. Bio-banding was assessed using a questionnaire and 29 coaches selected their top players in each game based on age or bio-bands. %PAH correlated with grip strength (r = .57, p>0.001) and jumping power (r = .63, p<0.001), but not with vertical jump height, sprint time or endurance. Players who played against more mature players in bio-bands than in age groups experienced higher demands, while players who played against less mature players were able to utilize their skills to a greater extent. Coaches generally favored later-than-average maturing players who performed better on performance tests and chronologically older players in bio-banding. We conclude that bio-banding in youth ice hockey has some promising effects and warrants further evaluation.

以生物成熟度（biological maturation）估算为依据、辅以生物分组（bio-banding）作为传统年龄分组的补充手段对运动员进行分类，已被证实是优化团队运动运动员培养发展的潜在工具；然而，生物分组尚未在冰球运动中得到相关评估。本研究的首要目标为，在样本量为69的12~13岁（处于生长突增早期）男子精英运动员群体中，探究相较于年龄分组模式，生物分组模式下运动员的体验与教练的选拔偏好。此外，本研究还分析了以预测成年身高百分比（% predicted adult height，%PAH）表征的躯体成熟度与体能表现之间的关联。研究通过问卷对生物分组模式进行了评估，并让29名教练分别基于年龄分组或生物分组，为每场比赛选拔顶尖运动员。结果表明，%PAH与握力（r=0.57，p>0.001）及跳跃爆发力（r=0.63，p<0.001）呈显著正相关，但与垂直跳高度、冲刺时长或耐力无明显关联。与年龄分组场景相比，在生物分组中对阵更成熟对手的运动员承受了更高的竞技负荷，而对阵更不成熟对手的运动员则能更充分地发挥自身技术能力。教练群体普遍更青睐在生物分组中体能测试表现更优异的晚熟型运动员，以及年龄分组体系内的年长运动员。本研究最终得出结论：青少年冰球运动中的生物分组模式具备一定的应用潜力，值得开展进一步的评估与研究。