gms | German Medical Science

Objective: Body composition plays an important role in the selection of young soccer players and it is associated with the success of young athletes. Body mass components are an important aspect of fitness for soccer. The most commonly used model of body composition divides the body into two compartments - fat components and fat-free mass (muscular and bone components). The aim of the study was to determine the body composition parameters of young male soccer players and to show the differences in age groups.

Material/Methods: A sample of 152 young male soccer players, age span 9 to 18 years, were divided into three groups according to the age: I - less than 14 years; II - 14 to16 years; III - 16 to 18 years. Anthropometric measurements were taken according to the method of Mateigka. The following measurements were made: body weight, body height, circumferences (arm, forearm, thigh and calf), diameters (elbow, knee, wrist, ankle) and skinfold thickness (biceps, triceps, thigh, leg, chest, abdomen). Body mass components such as muscular component (MC), the bone component (BC) and the body fat (BF) were analyzed as absolute values and as percentage values.

Results: Following values were determined: for I group - MC=50.56%; BC=20.34%; BF= 15.21%; for II group - MC=50.34%; BC=18.8%; BF= 14.87%. and for the III group - MC=52.54%; BC=17.94%; BF=15.24%. MC showed highest value in the III group of 36.55+/–5.42 kg (p<0.0001). Compared to I group, BC showed decreased values in II group, 18.8% (p<0.05) and in the III group, 18.04% (p<0.05). BF did not show any statistical difference for all groups.

Conclusion: The youngest group which is in the prepubertal phase had higher bone component and the oldest group had higher muscular component while the body fat was with similar value in all groups. The obtained data could be used as standard values for body mass components evaluation in young soccer players.