The aim of the research was to determine the correlation of morphological characteristics and fitness parameters of overweight and obese boys aged seven. The sample of participants consisted of 198 pupils (boys) aged seven years, from elementary schools from the territory of the city of Niš, Paraćin, Bela Palanka, Leskovac and others, classified as a category with increased body mass or obesity. Morphological characteristics were determined by measuring parameters of longitudinal (3), transversal, (3) circular dimensions (3) and body mass and measurement of subcutaneous fat tissue (3). For the assessment of muscular fitness, body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness, the following tests were used: the plyometric leap, precancer-turn-off, percentage of body fat and Body Mass Index (BMI); a shuttle run test based on the calculated VO2max (L) and VO2max (ml/kg/min) values. A canonical correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between morphological characteristics and fitness parameters. The level of statistical significance was set at .05. The results of the study showed that there is a statistically significant association (p˂.01) between morphological characteristics and fitness parameters in overweight and obese boys aged seven. Participants who have higher values of voluminosity and body width have higher values of fat percentage in the body as well as BMI. Smaller explosive power was found in participants with higher values of skin folds. It has been determined that body mass and voluminosity positively affects the strength of the arm and shoulders, that is, they adversely affect the VO2max values.

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The aim of this research was to examine the effects of a 6-week off-season period on body composition and muscle fitness in young soccer players. A total of 48 young soccer players, randomly selected for the experimental group-EG (n=24; Age: 16.83±1.14 years; Height: 175.35±6.68 cm) and control group-CG (n=24; Age: 16.80±1.19 years; Height: 178.18±6.97 cm) took part in this research. The variables of body composition (body mass, body fat mass and BMI) and muscle fitness (CMJ, CMJAS, 20m sprint, slalom test and slalom test with ball) were measured. The first testing session (TS1) took place immediately after the end of the competition period. The second testing session (TS2) was after 2 weeks and the third testing session (TS3) was after 6 weeks from the beginning of the preparation period. Statistically significant differences were found after TS2 and TS3 in all the variables (p<0.05) except in the variables of agility (slalom test and slalom test with a ball) in CG. A significant difference in the experimental group after TS2 was found in the 20m sprint (p<0.05) and after TS3 in body mass (p<0.05), body fat mass (p<0.05), BMI (p<0.05) and the 20m sprint (p<0.05). An effect size analysis showed significant increases after TS2 between EG and CG in the variable body fat mass (ES=-0.73, moderate) and significant decreases in the variable CMJAS (ES=0.60, moderate). Significant increases after TS3 between EG and CG were found in the variable body fat mass (ES=-0.93, moderate) and significant decreases in both the variable of jumping performance CMJ (ES=0.81, moderate) and CMJAS (ES=0.91, moderate).