Relationship Between Body Composition, Anthropometry and Physical Fitness in Under-12 Soccer Players of Different Positions
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
International Journal of Sports Science 2016, 6(1A): 25-30 DOI: 10.5923/s.sports.201601.05 Relationship between Body Composition, Anthropometry and Physical Fitness in Under-12 Soccer Players of Different Positions Jorge Aurélio1, Eduardo Dias1, Tiago Soares1, Gonçalo Jorge1, Mario André da Cunha Espada1,2,*, Dalton Muller Pessôa Filho3, Ana Pereira1,4, Teresa Figueiredo1 1Polytechnic Institute of Setubal, School of Education, Setubal, Portugal 2Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance, Lisbon, Portugal 3São Paulo State University, UNESP, Bauru, Brazil 4Research Centre for Sport, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Vila Real, Portugal Abstract This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition, anthropometry and physical fitness in under-12 soccer players who play in different positions. Eighteen players underwent a battery of tests, in body composition and anthropometry significant differences were observed in weight (44.0 ± 4.6 vs. 35.6 ± 4.0 kg; p = 0.04) and body mass index (18.1 ± 1.0 vs. 16.1 ± 1.2 kg/cm2; p = 0.01) between defensive and midfield players. In physical fitness differences occurred between the results in handgrip strength between defenders and forwards (21.3 ± 2.8 vs. 25.4 ± 3.7 kg; p = 0.04) and midfielders and forwards (20.5 ± 2.0 vs. 25.4 ± 3.7 kg; p = 0.04). Correlations occurred in the soccer defenders between body fat and the result of the agility test (r = -0.85, p <0.01). In the midfield players there was a correlation between height and countermovement jump (r = -0.91, p <0.05). It was also observed in the forward players a correlation between speed and agility (r = 0.88, p <0.05) and between agility and other two variables, body fat (r = 0.84, p <0.05) and handgrip strength (r = -0.93, p <0.01). A positive relationship between the aerobic performance and countermovement jump was also observed (r = 0.96, p <0.01), and a negative relationship between the aerobic performance and weight (r = -0.88, p <0.05). Under-12 soccer players should be involved in specific strength training and functional performance evaluated using scientific instruments for talent identification and training control. Keywords Body Composition, Anthropometry, Physical Fitness, Soccer, Player Positions physical, and technical skills [5-7] successfully discriminate 1. Introduction soccer players by competitive level and position. Among the youngest, elite youth players are taller and heavier than Over the years, soccer game became extremely popular non-elite peers [8-10], and perform significantly better on among the worldwide population, resulting in an increase in sprinting and jumping tests [10, 11], as well as in the number of season competitions and games, involving soccer-specific tests of dribbling and juggling [12]. highly prepared and specialized players. Specific physical Frequent involvement with the ball and successful fitness of the athletes, among which agility, speed or strength, performance in skill-related activities are important deserve specific approach and detailed analysis in scientific determinants of success in soccer [4, 12, 13]. Agility and research. Soccer is a team sport, involving many players, that intermittent endurance appeared to distinguish elite from requires an efficient collective organization and, non-elite central defenders, midfielders and forwards. Also simultaneously, the specific development of each player power and speed usually support the decisive based on the individual and group perspective, at this level, decision-making situations in professional football, a high the or sector position point of view. In research developed degree of stress is imposed on the neuromuscular system of in this sport, players are divided into four groups: goalkeeper, players to enable them to cope with these essential defenders, midfielders and forwards [1, 2]. force-based actions required during training and competition Morphological characteristics [3, 4] and tactical, (e.g., accelerations and decelerations) [14]. It is common sense that the most intense match periods * Corresponding author: and worst-case match scenarios are associated with periods [email protected] (Mario André da Cunha Espada) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/sports of high mechanical and metabolic stress. In fact, recently Copyright © 2016 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved developed techniques of match analysis provide a body of 26 Jorge Aurélio et al.: Relationship between Body Composition, Anthropometry and Physical Fitness in Under-12 Soccer Players of Different Positions evidence that supports the belief that neuromuscular 2.2. Procedures demands of training and competition are higher than initially In the first session anthropometric measures and strength suspected [14] and give further support to the viewpoint that performance in the lower limbs were performed. Body mass strength/power-related qualities are crucial for high-level and whole body fat were assessed through a bioelectric performance. Therefore, speed and power are important impedance analysis method (Tanita BC 420S MA, Japan). components of soccer specific fitness training [15, 16]. The strength of lower limbs were determined using The team sport games, such as soccer, are associated to Ergojump System (Byomedic, SCP, Barcelona, Spain) plenty of sprints also speed and directions changes are key which allowed each athlete to perform three jumps in features in this type of sports [17]. Players must adapt to the countermovement (CMJ) to evaluate the maximum jump physical demands of the game and moderate to high levels of height (better record of three jumps - cm). In the final of the speed, agility, and aerobic endurance. These have been session, maximal isometric strength was evaluated using a described as important physiological qualities for elite soccer digital dynamometer, handgrip (HG), (Camry 90 kg) to as the ability to tolerate systematic training is also clearly assess the strength in the dominant hand. important [4]. Players like Lionel Messi or Cristiano One day latter, in the second session, agility was evaluated Ronaldo, considered currently the world best, are often using the Illinois Agility Run Test, designed to measure the considered as talent individuals due to capacities as strength, agility of the athlete to run in different directions and angles, speed and agility. This attributes seem to be crucial to the and therefore, perform the reality of a soccer player during a performance of the player, since they are presented in game. Athletes run 10-m distances performing zig-zag various game actions, such as pass, run and dribbling. movements between four equally spaced cones (3.3 m). The The body composition of a soccer player can also have an soccer players were instructed to perform the fastest possible impact on his performance. Several studies have shown high route through all the cones [25]. levels of correlation between the body fat percentage (BF%) The speed was evaluated by a 40 m sprint test measured and athletic performance [18, 19], elite players have BF% with a stopwatch (Golfinho Sports MC 815, Aveiro, Portugal) between 7 and 19% [2, 20]. Also in the elite, forwards are the and the results of aerobic fitness test were obtained thought fastest players and run the greatest distances in sprint during the Yo-Yo Endurance Test [3]. Cones mark two lines of 20 m a soccer game [2]. and the subjects start with their foot behind one of the lines, Different studies showed that in soccer, power of the and begin running when instructed. They continue running lower limbs evaluated by the vertical jump is between 38-45 between the two lines, turning when signalled by the cm [21-23]. However, Wisløff et al. [1] reported values of recorded beeps. After each minute or so, the pace gets 50-55 cm in elite soccer players. In the same study, forwards quicker. If the line is not reached in time the subject must run and defenders jumped more than midfield soccer players. In to the line turn and try to catch up with the pace within 2 young players, lower values for the vertical jump have been more ‘beeps’. The test is stopped if the subject fails to catch reported [24], but what is observed is that the vast majority of up with the pace within the two ends and the number of the literature is related to soccer at elite level, not youth level. shuttles assumed. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition, anthropometry and physical 2.3. Statistical Treatment fitness in under-12 soccer players who play in different Data analysis was conducted in Excel software and positions. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20.0, Chicago, IL). The normality of the distributions was assessed 2. Methods and Procedures with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Parametric and non-parametric statistics were selected accordingly. Standard statistical 2.1. Subjects methods were used for the calculation of means and standard Eighteen male soccer players under-12 of a historical deviations. The Kruskall-Wallis was used to compare the portuguese club of the first division were involved in the results players of different soccer position. Ranking study. The sample included players aged between 11 and 12 Spearman Correlation Coefficients (rs) were calculated years and divided by field position, 6 defenders (D), 6 between position and all variables. Significance was midfielders (M) and 6 forwards (F). The study was accepted at the p<0.05 level. conducted in the final stage of the season, but the players were still in a competitive phase. All measures were 3. Results evaluated in two sessions after a simple warm-up of 10 minutes duration. The study was approved by the local Significant differences were observed between defenders University Ethical Committee, and conducted in accordance and midfielders in weight and BMI (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, with the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki. Parents/Guardians respectively) (Table 1).