There is a strong relationship between body composition and performance in male soccer players. This study aimed to display an optimal body height and weight, and body composition profile of male soccer players for four competitive age groups. This cross-sectional study included four groups: U-15 (n = 152), U-17 (n = 154), U-19 (n = 61), and seniors (n = 27). Body height and weight were measured under standard conditions, and the bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) analyzed body composition. On average, soccer players in the U-15 group had significantly lower body height, weight, body mass index, skeletal muscle mass, fat-free mass, total body water and basal metabolic rate than U-17, U-19 and seniors, but a higher percentage of body fat than U-17 and U-19, p < 0.05. In addition, the results show significant non-linear increases in body height, weight and body composition as the age of soccer players increases, with the exception of the percentage of body fat mass, which tends to significantly decrease with age. The main findings of this study are that body fat mass remains stable and similar across all age groups, including in the senior squad.

Background: Plyometric training is used to improve human neuro-muscular function and performance in sports. Agility as a necessary motor ability, which is one of the physical components of success in many sports, is especially important for the optimal performance of soccer players. Due to changes in direction and movement during the game, soccer players shows the ability to quickly change direction, stop quickly and perform through fast, accurate, and precise repetitive movements. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of plyometric training on the agility in male soccer players, based on studies that have dealt with the effects of plyometric training. Methods:The search and analysis of the studies were done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metaanalyzes (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search of 4 databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science and Research Gate) was conducted using all available studies by November 2021. The identified studies had to meet the following criteria: original longitudinal studies written in English, active male soccer players as sample of participants, experimental treatment of plyometric training with at least two groups of subjects, studies that covered the impact of plyometric training, and studies containing agility tests. Results: A total of 21 studies were included in the systematic review. Improvements in agility tests were small, moderate, and large and ranged from 2% to 14.63%. The greatest improvement in agility was shown in soccer players after a two-week and six-week plyometric program, where the agility test showed a significant improvement of 14.63%. Programs lasting six and eight weeks proved to be the most effective plyometric training program. Plyometric training related to jumps with a progressive increase in intensity and a series of exercises for activation of the lower extremities, there was an improvement of 0.41 s to 0.90 s. Conclusions: Based on the analysis of the included studies, it can be concluded that according to the duration of the program, the minimum period where there can be an improvement in agility and other motor skills is six weeks, and that the usual weekly load is two to three pieces of training.

Study in the period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown and the effect of different exercise training programs on the quality of life (QoL) dimension are limited. This randomized control study as a part of which the impact of an 8-week neuromuscular training program on the 90 healthy young individuals’ QoL after COVID-19 lockdown was assessed using a short form of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire comprising of four domains (physical health, psychological health, social relations, and the environment). The intervention group (NT) (n = 47) took part in a neuromuscular training program consisting of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization and whole-body vibration training. In contrast, the control group (CG) (n = 43) did not participate in any programmed physical activity. From pre- to post-intervention test, the NT group significantly and substantially improved [mean change (95% CI)] all the QoL domains, physical for 12.78 scores (8.89, 16.64), psychological for 13.12 scores (9.51, 16.74), social relationships for 20.57 scores (16.12, 25.02), and environmental for 24.40 scores (21.45, 27.35). These results suggest that the NT program could enhance QoL in young and healthy participants following COVID-19 lockdown.

Na temelju (samo)procjene osobnih vrijednosti bosansko–hercegovačkih i slovenskih nogometnih trenera u radu se kritički promišlja o aksiološkom i teleloškom vidiku sporta, posebice nogometu koji se danas nametnuo kao društveni i kulturni fenomen. Glavni cilj rada bio je utvrditi hijerarhiju vrijednosti, analizirati faktorsku strukturu vrijednosti te utvrditi povezanost sociodemografskih podataka sa sustavom vrijednosti bosansko–hercegovačkih i slovenskih nogometnih trenera te utvrditi slažu li se vrijednosni nalazi hrvatskih nogometnih trenera s trenerima država iz okruženja. Za potrebe ovoga rada korišten je Schwartzov upitnik vrijednosti Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ, 2001), a istraživanje je provedeno 2017. godine u suradnji s Centrom za edukaciju Nogometnog/Fudbalskog saveza Bosne i Hercegovine i Nogometnom zvezom Slovenije. Provedena je faktorska analiza vrijednosti bosansko–hercegovačkih i slovenskih nogometnih trenera, koja je dala tri ekstrahirana vrijednosna faktora: vrijednosti vlastitoga odricanja, zadržavanje tradicionalnih odnosa i vlastiti probitak. Analiza rezultata pokazala je kako postoje razlike u hijerarhiji vrijednosti trenerskih podskupina UEFA B, UEFA A, UEFA PRO te kako određeni sociodemografski podatci utječu na vrijednosti bosansko–hercegovačkih i slovenskih nogometnih trenera.

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