Body Composition in Elite Soccer Players from Youth to Senior Squad

There is a strong relationship between body composition and performance in male soccer players. This study aimed to display an optimal body height and weight, and body composition profile of male soccer players for four competitive age groups. This cross-sectional study included four groups: U-15 (n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-05, Vol.18 (9), p.4982
Main Authors: Spehnjak, Marijan, Gušić, Marko, Molnar, Slavko, Baić, Mario, Andrašić, Slobodan, Selimi, Musa, Mačak, Draženka, Madić, Dejan M., Žilič Fišer, Suzana, Sporiš, Goran, Trajković, Nebojša
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age groups
Bioelectricity
Body composition
Body fat
Body height
Body mass
Body mass index
Body size
Body water
Calibration
Fat-free body mass
Metabolic rate
Metabolism
Morphology
Muscles
Musculoskeletal system
Normal distribution
Players
Skeletal muscle
Soccer
Standard deviation
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Summary:There is a strong relationship between body composition and performance in male soccer players. This study aimed to display an optimal body height and weight, and body composition profile of male soccer players for four competitive age groups. This cross-sectional study included four groups: U-15 (n = 152), U-17 (n = 154), U-19 (n = 61), and seniors (n = 27). Body height and weight were measured under standard conditions, and the bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) analyzed body composition. On average, soccer players in the U-15 group had significantly lower body height, weight, body mass index, skeletal muscle mass, fat-free mass, total body water and basal metabolic rate than U-17, U-19 and seniors, but a higher percentage of body fat than U-17 and U-19, p < 0.05. In addition, the results show significant non-linear increases in body height, weight and body composition as the age of soccer players increases, with the exception of the percentage of body fat mass, which tends to significantly decrease with age. The main findings of this study are that body fat mass remains stable and similar across all age groups, including in the senior squad.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph18094982