Anthropometrical characteristics and somatotype of young soccer players and their comparison with the general population
Journal Title: Biology of Sport - Year 2010, Vol 27, Issue 1
Abstract
In soccer, most studies have been conducted on elite adult players and there is less information about young, non-elite players. The objectives of this project were twofold: to evaluate the changes in the anthropometric characteristics and the somatotype of soccer players across different ages and to compare these characteristics to those of the general population (Basque and U.S.A. standards).The study population was formed of 203 soccer players, aged 14 to 19 years. Height, weight, B.M.I., skinfolds, diameters and circumferences were measured in order to calculate the body composition and somatotype. Boys aged 14 and 15 were shorter and leaner than the remainder of players. From age 16 onwards there was no differences in the measurements, implying that the subjects attained adult stature at age 16. The trunk-to-limb-fat ratio increased across the age groups, as happens in the general population; however, in soccer players this was due to a decrease in limb fat rather than an increase in the truncal fat.Soccer players showed a mainly mesomorphic somatotype, with the exception of the 14 year-old individuals who presented a greater ectomorphy compared to the adult players.The comparison with the general population showed that soccer players were taller and heavier, though this may due to a selection process favoring boys with these characteristics. Young soccer players were taller and bigger than boys of the same age in the general population; this may be due to a selection process towards larger and stronger boys.
Authors and Affiliations
SM Gil, J Gil, A Irazusta, F Ruiz
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP58987
- DOI -
- Views 96
- Downloads 0
Influence of two high-intensity intermittent training programmes on anaerobic capacity in humans
The aim of this work was to determine the influence of a maximal effort training programme with variation of the pedalling rate on the anaerobic capacity, post-exercise maximal concentration of lactic acid (LA) and acid-...
GYMNASTS UTILIZE VISUAL AND AUDITORY INFORMATION FOR BEHAVIOURAL SYNCHRONIZATION IN TRAMPOLINING
In synchronized trampolining, two gymnasts perform the same routine at the same time. While trained gymnasts are thought to coordinate their own movements with the movements of another gymnast by detecting relevant movem...
EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON THE LEVEL OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN A IN SALIVA
The aim of this paper is to describe the structure, production and function of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) as well as changes of its concentration caused by exercise of various intensity and duration. Immunoglobuli...
DOES AEROBIC EXERCISE TRAINING PROMOTE CHANGES IN STRUCTURAL AND BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE TENDONS IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
To develop a systematic review to evaluate, through the best scientific evidence available, the effectiveness of aerobic exercise in improving the biomechanical characteristics of tendons in experimental animals. Two ind...
TRAINING-INDUCED CHANGES IN THE TOPOGRAPHY OF MUSCLE TORQUES AND MAXIMAL MUSCLE TORQUES IN BASKETBALL PLAYERS
The aim of the study was to detect changes in the maximal muscle torques in male basketball players during a two-year training cycle. We verified the hypothesis that different workloads applied during the preparation and...