Anthropometric and Physical Characteristics of Tunisians Young Soccer Players

Mehdi Ben Brahim, Rym Bougatfa, Amri Mohamed

Laboratory Adaptations Cardio-Circulatory, Respiratory, Metabolic and Hormonal to Muscular Exercise, Faculty of Medicine Ibn El Jazzar, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.

DOI: 10.4236/ape.2013.33021                

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to provide anthropometric, physical and physiological performance characteristics of Tunisian young soccer players and to examine the relationship between selected parameters according to their playing standard position. One hundred under 13 years old (U-13) male soccer players were tested. They were classified according to their playing standard positions (goalkeeper: GK, defender: DF, midfield: MF, and forward: FW). Testing consisted of anthropometric measurements including weight, height, and body mass index, and performance measures of speed (5, 15, and 20 m), agility run (Agility-15 m and Ball-15 m), vertical jumping, ball shooting, and aerobic capacity (Hoff Dribble Test and Yo-Yo intermittent Endurance Run, YYIER). GK were taller and heavier than other players. Significant differences of playing positions for the majority of the physical tests include 20 m sprint, Agility-15 m and Ball-15 m times (all p < .01), as well as squat jump and counter movement jump (all p < .01). In addition, weight was significantly correlated with 20 m sprint (r = .29, p < .01), Agility-15 m (r = .30, p < .01) and Ball-15 m (r = .31, p < .01) times as well as ball shooting speed (r = -.42, p < .01). Multiple regression analyses showed that weight and height were the most significant predictors of 20 m sprint time and the YYIER distance, respectively. In conclusion, performance abilities between positions in young soccer players appear to be different. Anthropometry can discriminate physical capacities and soccer skills providing a scientific rational behind the coaches’ practice of selecting young soccer players.

Keywords

Young Soccer Players; Anthropometric; Performance; Playing Positions; Relationship

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Bangsbo, J., & Michalsik, L. (2002). Assessment and physiological ca pacity of elite soccer players. In T. Reilly, & A. Murphy (Eds.), Sci ence and football IV (pp. 53-62). Cambridge, UK: Routledge,
[2]	Castagna, C., Impellizzeri, F. M., Belardinelli, R., Abt, G., Coutts, A., Cha mari, K., & D’Ottavio, S. (2006). Cardio respiratory responses to Yo Yo intermittent endurance test in nonelite youth soccer players. Jour nal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20, 326-33.
[3]	Chamari, K., Hachana, Y., Kaouech, F., Jeddi, R., Moussa-Chamari, I., & Wisloff (2005). Endurance training and testing with the ball in young elite soccer players. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 39, 24-28. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2003.009985
[4]	Cometti, G., Maffiuletti, N. A., Pousson, M., Chatard, J. C., & Maffulli, N. (2001). Isokinetic strength and anaerobic power of elite, subelite and amateur French soccer players. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 22, 45-51. doi:10.1055/s-2001-11331
[5]	Di Salvo, V., Baron, R., Tschan, H., Calderon Montero, F. J., Bachl, N., & Pigozzi, F. (2007). Performance characteristics according to play ing position in elite soccer. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 28, 222-227. doi:10.1055/s-2006-924294
[6]	Di Salvo, V., Benito, P. J., Calderon, F. J., Di Salvo, M., & Pigozz, F. (2008). Activity profile of elite goalkeepers during football match play. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 48, 443-446.
[7]	Dorge, H. C., Anderson, T. B., Sorensen, H., & Simonsen, E. B. (2002). Biomechanical differences in soccer kicking with the preferred and the non-preferred leg. Journal of Sports Science, 20, 293-299. doi:10.1080/026404102753576062
[8]	Drust, B., Cable, N. T., & Reilly, T. (2000). Investigation of the effects of the pre-cooling on the physiological responses to soccer-specific intermittent exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 81, 11-17. doi:10.1007/PL00013782
[9]	Duthie, G., Pyne, D., & Hooper, S. (2003). Applied physiology and game analysis of rugby. Union Sports Medicine, 33, 973-991. doi:10.2165/00007256-200333130-00003
[10]	Gil, S. M., Gil, J., Ruiz, F., Irazusta, A., & Irazusta, J. (2007). Physiolo gical and anthropometric characteristics of young soccer players ac cording to their playing position: relevance for the selection process. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21, 438-445.
[11]	Helsen, W. F., Van Winckel, J., & Williams, A. M. (2005). The relative age effect in youth soccer across Europe. Journal of Sports Science, 23, 629-636. doi:10.1080/02640410400021310
[12]	Hoff, J., Wisloff, U., Engen, L. C., Kemi, O. J., & Helgerud, J. (2002). Soccer specific aerobic endurance training. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 36, 218-221. doi:10.1136/bjsm.36.3.218
[13]	Malina, R. M., Cumming, S. P., Kontos, A. P., Eisenmann, J. C., Ribeiro, B., & Aroso, J. (2005). Maturity-associated variation in sport-speci fic skills of youth soccer players aged 13-15 years. Journal of Sports Science, 23, 515-522. doi:10.1080/02640410410001729928
[14]	Malina, R. M., Eisenmann, J. C., Cumming, S. P., Ribeiro, B., & Aroso, J. (2004). Maturity-associated variation in the growth and functional capacities of youth football (soccer) players 13-15 years. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 91, 555-562. doi:10.1007/s00421-003-0995-z
[15]	Malina, R. M., Pena Reyes, M. E., Eisenmann, J. C., Horta, L., Rodrigues, J., & Miller, R. (2000). Height, mass and skeletal maturity of elite Portuguese soccer players aged 11-16 years. Journal of Sports Sci ence, 18, 685-693. doi:10.1080/02640410050120069
[16]	Mcgee, K. J., & Burkett, L. N. (2003). The national football league com bine: A reliable predictor of draft status. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 17, 6-11.
[17]	Mcintyre, M. C., & Hall, M. (2005). Physiological profile in relation to playing position of elite college Gaelic footballers. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 39, 264-266. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2003.011254
[18]	Mcintyre, M. C. (2005). A comparison of the physiological profiles of elite Gaelic footballers, hurlers, and soccer players. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 39, 437-439. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2004.013631
[19]	Mujika, I., Santisteban, J., Impellizzeri, F. M., & Castagna, C. (2009). Fit ness determinants of success in men’s and women’s football. Journal of Sports Science, 27, 107-114. doi:10.1080/02640410802428071
[20]	Pyne, D. B., Duthie, G. M., Saunders, P. U., Petersen, C. A., & Portus, M. R. (2006). Anthropometric and strength correlates of fast bowling speed in junior and senior cricketers. Journal of Strength and Condi tioning Research, 20, 620-626.
[21]	Reilly, T., Bangsbo, J., & Franks, A. (2000). Anthropometric and phy siological predispositions for elite soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 18, 669-683. doi:10.1080/02640410050120050
[22]	Reilly, T., Williams, A. M., Nevill, A., & Franks, A. (2000). A multidis ciplinary approach to talent identification in soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 18, 695-702. doi:10.1080/02640410050120078
[23]	Rienzi, E., Drust, B., Reilly, T., Carter, J. E., & Martin, A. (2000). Inve stigation of anthropometric and work-rate profiles of elite South American international soccer players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 40, 162-169.
[24]	Sheppard, J. M., & Young, W. B. (2006). Agility literature review: Clas sifications, training and testing. Journal of Sports Science, 24, 919-932. doi:10.1080/02640410500457109
[25]	Slavko, R., Hilfiker, R., Claiys, P., Clijsen, R., & Taeytnansa, J. (2011). Position-specific and Team-ranking-related Morphological characte ristics in German Amateur Soccer Players—A Descriptive Study— Anthropometry in Amateur Soccer players. International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences, 23, 8-182.
[26]	Stroyer, J., Hansen, L., & Klausen, K. (2004). Physiological profile and activity pattern of young soccer players during match play. Medicine Sciences Sports Exercises, 36, 168-174. doi:10.1249/01.MSS.0000106187.05259.96
[27]	Wong, P., Chamari, K., Dellal, A., & Wisloff, U. (2009). Relationship between anthropometric and physiological characteristics in youth soccer. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23, 1204-1210. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31819f1e52
[28]	Wong, P., Mujika, I., Castagna, C., Chamari, K., Lau, P. W. C., & Wis loff, U. (2008). Characteristics of World Cup soccer players. Soccer Journal, 57-62.
[29]	Young, W. B., Newton, R. U., Doyle, T. L., Chapman, D., Cormack, S., Stewart, G., & Dawson, B. (2005). Physiological and anthropometric characteristics of starters and non-starters and playing positions in elite Australian Rules football: A case study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 8, 333-345. doi:10.1016/S1440-2440(05)80044-1