Body composition of young soccer players
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35469/ak.2022.367Keywords:
BMI, anthropometry, fitness, body fat, soccerAbstract
Purpose: The main aim of this study was to examine and analyse the body composition of young soccer players across different age groups.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 126 young soccer players divided into age categories: U15 – 53 players (age=14.68±0.47); U17 – 51 players (age=16.47±0.50); U19 – 22 players (age=18.05±0.38). The subjects’ height was measured using an anthropometer, while their body composition was measured using the TANITA BC-420MA digital scale.
Results: On average, soccer players in the U15 group had significantly lower body height, weight, body mass index and fat free mass than U17 and U19 players, but had a higher percentage of body fat (p < 0.05). In addition to the percent of body fat mass, which tends to significantly decrease with age, the results also demonstrate significant non-linear increases in body height, weight, and lean body composition concurrent with the players’ ages.
Conclusion: These results indicate that younger soccer players have lower absolute values of morphological characteristics compared to senior players.
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Copyright (c) 2022 Erol Kovačević, Denis Čausević, Seth Spicer, Siniša Kovač, Ivor Doder, Slavenko Likić, Boris Metikoš
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