Relationship between body composition and physical capacities in junior soccer players

Abstract The number of studies related to soccer has been growing exponentially in the last years because the modality is considered the most popular in the world. It is known that the development of some specific physical capacities, even in young individuals, is essential to high-level performance and these capacities might be related to anthropometrics variables. The purpose of this study was to verify the relationship between body composition and physical capacities in young soccer players. Study participants were athletes from junior categories (under-12 and under-13) belonging to the Soccer Association of Chapecó, Brazil.. Athletes were submitted to agility, (Illinois), vertical jump (Sargent Jump), aerobic condition (TCAR), flexibility and sit-and-reach (Wells Bench) tests, as well as anthropometric assessment. All procedures were performed at UNOESC campus, Chapecó. Statistical analysis consisted of the Spearman’s Rô test, measuring the correlation among variables, additionally, significance level of p<0.05 was adopted. Results showed significantly correlation in agility (p=0.000; ρ=0.530) and vertical jump tests (p=0.003; ρ=-0.437) with body fat percentage. It was concluded that there is relationship between body fat percentage and agility and explosive power of lower limbs.

摘要 过去数年间，足球相关研究的数量呈指数级增长，这是由于足球被公认为全球最具人气的运动项目。众所周知，即便针对青少年群体，部分特定身体能力的发展亦是实现高水平竞技表现的必要前提，而此类身体能力或与人体测量学变量存在关联。本研究旨在探究青少年足球运动员身体成分与身体能力之间的相关性。研究参与者为巴西沙佩科足球协会下属U12与U13年龄段梯队的运动员。全体运动员接受了伊利诺斯敏捷测试（Illinois）、萨金特纵跳测试（Sargent Jump）、有氧能力测试（TCAR）、柔韧性测试以及威尔斯坐位体前屈测试（Wells Bench），并完成了人体测量学评估。所有测试流程均在巴西沙佩科的UNOESC校园内开展。统计分析采用斯皮尔曼秩相关检验（Spearman’s Rô）以测算变量间的相关性，同时设定显著性水平为p<0.05。结果显示，体脂百分比与伊利诺斯敏捷测试（p=0.000; ρ=0.530）及萨金特纵跳测试（p=0.003; ρ=-0.437）存在显著相关性。综上，体脂百分比与下肢敏捷性及下肢爆发力量之间存在显著关联。