SSubjecting teenagers to intense physical training in the expectation that they will become a great athlete can be a mistake, according to Arnaldo Luis Mortatti, professor of Physical Education, in a master's research presented at Unicamp. He states that systematized training programs often do not take into account the adolescent's degree of sexual maturation – when there is an increase in the levels of male hormones, responsible for enzymatic activity and gains in muscle strength. “There is no point in increasing the intensity of exercise if the person is not prepared to absorb it positively. Forcing exercise can even cause stress”, explains the professor.

Guided by professor Miguel de Arruda, Mortatti carried out the study with two groups aged between 11 and 13 years: one made up of football players who had maintained an intense physical training routine for two years, and the other of teenagers without any type of training. . The players showed better motor capacity, but when this performance was related to the degree of sexual maturation, differences appeared, although discreet: those with a lower degree of maturation also had lower motor performance, while those with a higher degree of maturation showed a positive influence on performance. .

It caught Arnaldo Mortatti's attention that even teenagers of the same age, but with different degrees of sexual maturation, showed a tendency to changes in performance. “This could mean that teenagers of similar ages must be trained in different ways,” he clarifies. The teacher observes that a boy can excel in physical activities because the greater degree of maturation leads to better performance. “Sooner or later, others tend to catch up,” he concludes.