Physical performances and anthropometric characteristics of young elite North-African female soccer players compared with international standards

Abstract Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide. Despite its global acclaim, scientific studies of soccer have tended to focus on tactics and techniques, thereby neglecting the physical and physiological profile of the players. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine physical and anthropometric characteristics of male South African university soccer players. Twenty-seven male soccer players aged 19 to 24 (mean age: 22.1 years; s = 1.5 years) volunteered to participate in the study. The results showed that goalkeepers (77.5 ± 9.7 kg) and defenders (68.2 ± 6.5 kg) were the heaviest compared to players in other playing positions. The goalkeepers also had the highest percentage of body fat (11.3 ± 2.3%), in contrast to midfielders who had the lowest body fat content (9.1 ± 0.9%). With regard to flexibility, defenders (45.1 ± 4.9 cm) and midfielders (45.9 ± 5.4 cm) performed better than goalkeepers (37.1 ± 4.3 cm) and strikers (40.1 ± 3.4 cm). Midfielders (57.2 ± 3.1 ml1·kg−1·min1) and defenders (56.1 ± 5.1 ml1·kg−1·min1) had significantly higher values of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) than goalkeepers (47.9 ± 0.2 ml−1·kg−1·min−1) and strikers (49.8 ± 6.2 ml−1·kg−1·min−1). No significant (p > 0.05) differences were observed for all other variables, with the exception of body height, body mass, and VO2max. It was therefore concluded that sports scientists and coaches should tailor conditioning programmes in soccer according to players’ positions in view of the implications for successful performance.

Download Full-text

Differences in anthropometric characteristics between young soccer players (U19) members of the best soccer clubs in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo

Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports ◽

10.15561/18189172.2020.0103 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 21-25

Author(s):

J. Gardasevic ◽

D. Bjelica ◽

I. Vasiljevic

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Balkan Peninsula ◽

The Body ◽

Southern Region ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Test Results ◽

Fat Percentage ◽

Anthropometric Characteristics ◽

Post Hoc

Background and Study Aim: The aim of this research was to determine the differences between the young soccer players (U19) in terms of anthropometric characteristics and body composition. We considered players of three the most successful clubs in three countries of the southern region of the Balkan Peninsula. Material and Methods: The first sub-sample of the subjects was consisted of 17 players of OFC Titograd from Montenegro of the average age 17.12±.69. The second sub-sample was consisted of 14 players of FC Siroki Brijeg from Bosnia and Herzegovina of the average age of 18.14±.86. The last sub-sample of the examinees was consisted of 15 players of FC Feronikeli from Kosovo of the average age 18.07±.46. Anthropometric characteristics in the body composition were evaluated by a battery of 11 variables. The significance of the differences between the young soccer players in the anthropometric characteristics and variables for assessing body composition were determined by ANOVA and LSD Post Hoc test. Results: The young soccer players of the three mentioned clubs have statistically significant differences by the two variables that estimate the upper leg skinfold and fat percentage. The young soccer players of OFC Titograd are significantly better in variable upper leg skinfold than other players. The young soccer players of FC Feronikeli are significantly better in variable fat percentage than players of OFC Titograd. Conclusions: The results can be useful for coaches of other clubs for making a comparison of their soccer players with the young soccer players in this research.

Download Full-text

Technical and physical performances of Chinese Super League soccer players differ according to their playing status and position

International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport ◽

10.1080/24748668.2019.1669356 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 878-892

Author(s):

Yang Gai ◽

Anna Volossovitch ◽

Anthony S. Leicht ◽

Miguel-Ángel Gómez

Keyword(s):

Soccer Players ◽

Physical Performances ◽

Super League

Download Full-text

Effects of a soccer season on anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness in elite young soccer players

Journal of Sports Sciences ◽

10.1080/02640414.2012.746721 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (6) ◽

pp. 589-596 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Mohamed Ali Hammami ◽

Abderraouf Ben Abderrahmane ◽

Ammar Nebigh ◽

Emmeran Le Moal ◽

Omar Ben Ounis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Anthropometric Characteristics

Download Full-text

Effect of anthropometric characteristics and socio-economic status on physical performances of pre-pubertal children living in Bolivia at low altitude

European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology ◽

10.1007/bf02226934 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 74 (4) ◽

pp. 367-374 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Robert de Jonge ◽

Mario Bedu ◽

Nicole Fellmann ◽

Stephen Blonc ◽

Hilde Spielvogel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Economic Status ◽

Socio Economic Status ◽

Anthropometric Characteristics ◽

Physical Performances ◽

Low Altitude

Download Full-text

Effects of Three Preseason Training Programs on Speed, Change-of-Direction, and Endurance in Recreationally Trained Soccer Players

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.719580 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Jérôme Koral ◽

Jaume Lloria Varella ◽

Fernando Lazaro Romero ◽

Clément Foschia

Keyword(s):

Interval Training ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Plyometric Training ◽

Training Time ◽

Change Of Direction ◽

Maximal Aerobic Speed ◽

Training Post ◽

Speed Change ◽

The Mean ◽

Physical Performances

Background: Modern coaches experience a drastic reduction of the available training time with an increasingly large number of competitions during the competitive season. Thus, they must choose wisely the most efficient methods to improve the physical fitness of their players during the preseason. Among all the methods, this study compared the effects of plyometric training (PT), sprint interval training (SIT), and small-sided games (SSGs) on the performance of recreationally trained soccer players.Methods: Seventy-three participants were randomly assigned in one of the three experimental groups (i.e., PT [n = 23], SIT [n = 26] or SSGs [n = 24]) and completed two sessions per week for a total of 3 weeks. Meanwhile, the whole group maintained their habitual soccer-specific training program who do not interfere in the preparation of the season. Repeated sprint ability (RSA), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), and a 30-m sprint were assessed at baseline (PRE) and post-training (POST).Results: Performance in SSGs decreased for the average speed from 0 to 10 m (V0−10m; −0.84 km h−1, −4 ± 5%, p < 0.001), the maximal distance (Dmax) covered in the 30-s RSA test (−3.65 m, −3 ± 6%, p < 0.01) and MAS (−0.52 km h−1, −3 ± 6%, p < 0.01). PT increased the mean distance (Dmean) covered in the 30-s RSA test (+5.98 m, 5 ± 4%, p < 0.001) and MAS (+0.58 km h−1, 7 ± 5%, p < 0.01) while an improvement of all parameters but the maximal sprint speed reached during the 30-m trip (Vmax) was found in the SIT group (V0−10m: +1.462 km h−1, 8 ± 5%, p < 0.001; Dmax: +7.89 m, 6 ± 5%, p < 0.001; Dmean: +8.69 m, 7 ± 5%, p < 0.001 and MAS: +1.74 km h−1, 12 ± 8%, p < 0.001). All SSG POST values were significantly lower than PT and SIT (p < 0.01). Dmean and MAS in POST were also significantly higher in SIT than in the PT group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: This study suggests that both PT and SIT could be a better alternative to SSGs to boost performances during preseason. Moreover, SIT seems to produce higher improvements in physical performances than PT.

Download Full-text

Differences in body composition between young soccer players (U19) members of the best soccer clubs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia

Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports ◽

10.15561/26649837.2020.0404 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 175-180

Author(s):

Jovan Gardasevic ◽

Dusko Bjelica ◽

Ivan Vasiljevic ◽

Bojan Masanovic

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Balkan Peninsula ◽

The Body ◽

Southern Region ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Fat Percentage ◽

Anthropometric Characteristics ◽

Post Hoc

Background and Study Aim: The aim of this research was to determine the differences between the young soccer players (U19) in terms of anthropometric characteristics and body composition. We considered players of three the most successful clubs in three countries of the southern region of the Balkan Peninsula. Material and Methods: The first sub-sample of the subjects was consisted of 19 players of FC Radnicki from Serbia of the average age 17.84±.37. The second sub-sample was consisted of 19 players of FC Sarajevo from Bosnia and Herzegovina of the average age of 17.53±.51. The last sub-sample of the examinees was consisted of 13 players of FC Shkupi from North Macedonia of the average age 18.00±.00. Anthropometric characteristics in the body composition were evaluated by a battery of 11 variables. The significance of the differences between the young soccer players in the anthropometric characteristics and variables for assessing body composition were determined by ANOVA and LSD Post Hoc test. Results: The young soccer players of the three mentioned clubs have statistically significant differences by the two variables that estimate fat percentage and muscle mass. The young soccer players of FC Radnicki are significantly better in variable fat percentage than other players. The young soccer players of FC Skhupi have significantly less muscle mass than other players. Conclusions: The results can be useful for coaches of other clubs for making a comparison of their soccer players with the young soccer players in this research.

Download Full-text