Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics, Somatotype Components, and Functional Abilities Among Young Elite Kosovo Soccer Players Based on Team Position

The purpose of this study was to compare anthropometric and functional profiles of 13-to-17-year-old soccer players according to their competitive level. Height, body mass, percentage of body fat, countermovement jump height, change of direction ability, 5- and 15-m sprint times, repeated sprint ability (RSA), intermittent recovery performance, and dribbling skills were collected in 115 young Italian soccer players. Players were divided into selected (i.e., competing at national level, n = 17 U15 and 47 U17) and non-selected (i.e., competing at regional level, n = 43 U15 and 8 U17) groups. U17 selected players were taller, quicker over 5 and 15 m, more agile, and had better RSA, prolonged intermittent recovery ability, and dribbling skills than their non-selected counterparts (d = 0.28–0.55, p < 0.05). In particular, selected players showed lower times on the first three and the last shuttle of the RSA test (d = 0.28–0.34, p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in U15 players (p > 0.05). Discriminant analysis revealed that dribbling skills, 15-m sprint time, and height best discriminate U17 players by competitive level (p < 0.001). Anthropometric characteristics and functional abilities can discriminate across competitive standards between male U17 but not U15 soccer players. In particular, these findings suggest the importance of dribbling skills, 15-m sprint, and height in U17 players.

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Physical Performance and Anthropometric Characteristics of Male South African University Soccer Players

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.1515/hukin-2017-0098 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 153-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alliance Kubayi ◽

Yvonne Paul ◽

Prescott Mahlangu ◽

Abel Toriola

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Body Fat ◽

Body Height ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Successful Performance ◽

Physiological Profile ◽

Percentage Of Body Fat ◽

Body Fat Content ◽

Anthropometric Characteristics ◽

Better Than

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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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