Dr Christopher McLaren-Towlson's Outputs (59)

When does the influence of maturation on anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics increase and subside? (2018)
Journal Article
Towlson, C., Cobley, S., Parkin, G., & Lovell, R. (2018). When does the influence of maturation on anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics increase and subside?. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 28(8), 1946-1955. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13198

The relationships between maturation and anthropometric and physical performance characteristics are dynamic and often asynchronous; confounding the capability to accurately evaluate performance during adolescence. This study aimed to (i) examine the... Read More about When does the influence of maturation on anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics increase and subside?.

Soccer player characteristics in English lower-league development programmes: The relationships between relative age, maturation, anthropometry and physical fitness (2015)
Journal Article
Lovell, R., Towlson, C., Parkin, G., Portas, M., Vaeyens, R., & Cobley, S. (2015). Soccer player characteristics in English lower-league development programmes: The relationships between relative age, maturation, anthropometry and physical fitness. PLoS ONE, 10(9), e0137238. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137238

© 2015 Lovell et al. The relative age effect (RAE) and its relationships with maturation, anthropometry, and physical performance characteristics were examined across a representative sample of English youth soccer development programmes. Birth dates... Read More about Soccer player characteristics in English lower-league development programmes: The relationships between relative age, maturation, anthropometry and physical fitness.

Relative age, maturation, and physical biases on position allocation in elite-youth soccer (2017)
Journal Article
Towlson, C., Cobley, S., Midgley, A., Garrett, A., Parkin, G., & Lovell, R. (2017). Relative age, maturation, and physical biases on position allocation in elite-youth soccer. International journal of sports medicine, 38(3), 201-209. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-119029

This study assessed the contribution of relative age, anthropometry, maturation, and physical fitness characteristics on soccer playing position (goalkeeper [GK], central-defender [CD], lateral-defender [LD], central midfield [CM], lateral-midfielder... Read More about Relative age, maturation, and physical biases on position allocation in elite-youth soccer.

A comparison between a new foot-mounted inertial measurement system and a local positioning system in amateur futsal (2025)
Thesis
Witter, W. (2025). A comparison between a new foot-mounted inertial measurement system and a local positioning system in amateur futsal. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/5089199

This study aimed to 1) establish the level of agreement between a foot-mounted inertial measurement system (PlayerMaker™) and a local positioning system (Catapult ClearSky™) for time-motion analysis variables in recreational futsal, (2) determine the... Read More about A comparison between a new foot-mounted inertial measurement system and a local positioning system in amateur futsal.

Does team size affect Scottish male academy soccer player technical, locomotor and psychosocial outcomes during age and maturity bio-banded small-sided games? (2025)
Journal Article
King, M., Barrett, S., Mclellan, R., Cox, J., Brown, M., Mackenzie, S., & Towlson, C. (in press). Does team size affect Scottish male academy soccer player technical, locomotor and psychosocial outcomes during age and maturity bio-banded small-sided games?. Journal of sports sciences, https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2456408

The timing of the adolescent growth spurt (i.e. peak height velocity [PHV]) varies greatly, causing significant differences in maturity-related anthropometric and physical development among chronologically age-categorised youth soccer players. These... Read More about Does team size affect Scottish male academy soccer player technical, locomotor and psychosocial outcomes during age and maturity bio-banded small-sided games?.

Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play (2025)
Journal Article
Escreet, E., Barrett, S., Toner, J., Iga, J., & Towlson, C. (2025). Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play. PLoS ONE, 20(1), Article e0316833. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316833

Background: Youth soccer players in the UK transition into the professional game at 16 years of age. Understanding the differences between youth and professional standards can help coaches and clubs to support player development during this transitio... Read More about Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play.

Creatine kinase and neuromuscular fatigue responses following differing spells of simulated cricket fast bowling (2025)
Journal Article
Bray, J. W., Towlson, C., Hayes, S. C., & Fogarty, M. (2025). Creatine kinase and neuromuscular fatigue responses following differing spells of simulated cricket fast bowling. PLoS ONE, 20(1 January), Article e0317692. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317692

The fast-bowling action demands repetitive high-intensity whole body movements, imposing complex physical and perceptual demands on players that vary significantly throughout the season. This study aimed to assess and establish practical methods and... Read More about Creatine kinase and neuromuscular fatigue responses following differing spells of simulated cricket fast bowling.

Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play (2025)
Journal Article
Escreet, E., Barrett, S., Toner, J., Iga, J., & Towlson, C. (2025). Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play. PLoS ONE, 20(1), Article e0316833. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316833

Background Youth soccer players in the UK transition into the professional game at 16 years of age. Understanding the differences between youth and professional standards can help coaches and clubs to support player development during this transition... Read More about Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play.

Validation of field-based running tests to determine maximal aerobic speed in professional rugby league (2024)
Journal Article
Bennett, T., Marshall, P., Barrett, S., Malone, J., Simpson, A., Bray, J., Christopherson, C., Nickolay, T., Metcalfe, J., & Towlson, C. (2024). Validation of field-based running tests to determine maximal aerobic speed in professional rugby league. PLoS ONE, 19(7 July), Article e0306062. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306062

Practitioners place importance on high-speed running (HSR) to monitor training practice and match-play demands, whilst attempting to maximise fitness and minimize the risk of injury occurrence. Practitioners apply various methods to quantify HSR, suc... Read More about Validation of field-based running tests to determine maximal aerobic speed in professional rugby league.

The effect of maturation on children's experience of physical education: Lessons learned from academy sport (2024)
Journal Article
Towlson, C., Cumming, S., Donnan, K., & Toner, J. (2024). The effect of maturation on children's experience of physical education: Lessons learned from academy sport. European Physical Education Review, https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X241251654

Students’ experiences of physical education (PE) are considered important for lifelong attitudes towards physical activity. Sex-related differences and the individualised tempo in anthropometric growth because of biological maturation lead to seconda... Read More about The effect of maturation on children's experience of physical education: Lessons learned from academy sport.

Talent identification in soccer: The influence of technical, physical and maturity-related characteristics on a national selection process (2024)
Journal Article
King, M., Brown, M., Cox, J., McLellan, R., Towlson, C., & Barrett, S. (2024). Talent identification in soccer: The influence of technical, physical and maturity-related characteristics on a national selection process. PLoS ONE, 19(3), Article e0298359. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298359

The present study examines the influence of technical, physical, and relative age characteristics on players selection success within the Scottish Performance School trials. Ninety adolescent players (81 males, 9 females; mean ± standard deviation: a... Read More about Talent identification in soccer: The influence of technical, physical and maturity-related characteristics on a national selection process.

Professional soccer practitioners' perceptions of using performance analysis technology to monitor technical and tactical player characteristics within an academy environment: A category 1 club case study (2024)
Journal Article
Davidson, T. K., Barrett, S., Toner, J., & Towlson, C. (2024). Professional soccer practitioners' perceptions of using performance analysis technology to monitor technical and tactical player characteristics within an academy environment: A category 1 club case study. PLoS ONE, 19(3), Article e0298346. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298346

This study aimed to identify professional soccer practitioners' perceptions of the application of performance analysis technology within a single academy club. Secondary aims were to understand the importance that practitioners place on monitoring te... Read More about Professional soccer practitioners' perceptions of using performance analysis technology to monitor technical and tactical player characteristics within an academy environment: A category 1 club case study.

A new method to identify key match-play behaviours of young soccer players: Development of the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool (2024)
Journal Article
Robinson, J., Cumming, S., Salter, J., Toner, J., & Towlson, C. (2024). A new method to identify key match-play behaviours of young soccer players: Development of the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool. PLoS ONE, 19(3 March), Article e0295953. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295953

The aim of this research was to assess the validity and reliability of a newly developed scoring tool, designed for monitoring youth soccer players during match-play performance to support coaches/scouts with the talent identification process. The me... Read More about A new method to identify key match-play behaviours of young soccer players: Development of the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool.

Talent identification in soccer: the influence of technical, physical and maturity-related characteristics on a national selection process - Anonymised dataset (2024)
Data
McLaren-Towlson, C. (2024). Talent identification in soccer: the influence of technical, physical and maturity-related characteristics on a national selection process - Anonymised dataset. [Data]

The present study examines the influence of technical, physical, and relative age characteristics on players selection success within the Scottish Performance School trials. Ninety adolescent players (81 males, 9 females; mean ± standard deviation: a... Read More about Talent identification in soccer: the influence of technical, physical and maturity-related characteristics on a national selection process - Anonymised dataset.

Professional soccer practitioners’ perceptions of using performance analysis technology to monitor technical and tactical player characteristics within an academy environment. (2024)
Data
McLaren-Towlson, C., Toner, J., & Kate Davidson, T. (2024). Professional soccer practitioners’ perceptions of using performance analysis technology to monitor technical and tactical player characteristics within an academy environment. [Data]

This study aimed to identify professional soccer practitioners’ perceptions of the application of performance analysis technology within an academy. Secondary aims were to understand the importance that practitioners place on monitoring technical and... Read More about Professional soccer practitioners’ perceptions of using performance analysis technology to monitor technical and tactical player characteristics within an academy environment..

A new method to identify key match-play behaviours of young soccer players: Development of the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool (Anonymised dataset) (2024)
Data
McLaren-Towlson, C., & Toner, J. (2024). A new method to identify key match-play behaviours of young soccer players: Development of the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool (Anonymised dataset). [Data]

The aim of this research was to develop a valid and reliable Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool suitable for youth soccer match play. The method used to design the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool comprised of a five-stage process of (i) conduc... Read More about A new method to identify key match-play behaviours of young soccer players: Development of the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool (Anonymised dataset).

Validation of Field-Based Running Tests to Determine Maximal Aerobic Speed in Professional Rugby League: Anonymised data set (2024)
Data
McLaren-Towlson, C., Marshall, P., Simpson, A., Bray, J., & Nickolay, T. (2024). Validation of Field-Based Running Tests to Determine Maximal Aerobic Speed in Professional Rugby League: Anonymised data set. [Data]

Practitioners place importance on high-speed running (HSR) to monitor training practice and match-play demands, whilst attempting to maximise fitness and minimize the risk of injury occurrence. Practitioners apply various methods to quantify HSR, suc... Read More about Validation of Field-Based Running Tests to Determine Maximal Aerobic Speed in Professional Rugby League: Anonymised data set.

Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play (anonymised dataset) (2024)
Data
McLaren-Towlson, C. (2024). Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play (anonymised dataset). [Data]

Background: Youth soccer players in the UK transition into the professional game at 16 years of age. Understanding the differences between youth and professional standards can help coaches and clubs to support player development during this transitio... Read More about Comparing the technical and individual possession statistics of academy players across different age groups in match-play (anonymised dataset).

The efficacy of virtual reality in professional soccer (2024)
Thesis
Greenhough, B. The efficacy of virtual reality in professional soccer. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4500542

Professional soccer clubs have taken an interest to virtual reality, however, only a paucity of evidence exists to support its use in the soccer training ground environment. Further, several soccer virtual reality companies have begun providing solut... Read More about The efficacy of virtual reality in professional soccer.

Practitioners perceived effectiveness and application of maturity status bio-banding for talent identification and development (2023)
Thesis
Watson, D.-J. Practitioners perceived effectiveness and application of maturity status bio-banding for talent identification and development. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4448211

Bio-banding is an approach used to group athletes based on their characteristics in relation to growth and maturity, rather than their chronological age. Although recent research has explored the effect of bio-banding on various markers (e.g., techni... Read More about Practitioners perceived effectiveness and application of maturity status bio-banding for talent identification and development.