Anthropometrical Characteristics and Somatotype of Young Macedonian Soccer Players

Abstract

GONTAREV, S.; KALAC, R.; ZIVKOVIC, V.; AMETI, V. & REDJEPI, R.Anthropometrical characteristics and somatotype of young Macedonian soccer players. Int. J. Morphol., 34(1):160-167, 2016. SUMMARY:The success in sport performance is closely related to the physical condition of the sportsman. In the assessment of the physical status except physiological and fitness parameters, significant influence have the anthropometric parameters. The aim of the study was dual: to assess the changes in the anthropometric characteristics and the somatotype of young soccer players at different ages and to compare these characteristics with the general population. The analyzed measurements of 486 young soccer players who play in teams of the First national league, with an average age 15.8±1.4. The soccer players were divided into five subgroups, at age difference of 1 year. In the sample height, weight, BMI index, diameters, volumes and skin folds were measured, also the body composition and the somatotype were calculated. Boys from 14 years were lower and had less tendencies of other age groups. From 16 years onwards there were no differences in the measurements which means that the respondents gradually get the look of adult players. All skin folds for young Macedonian players (except the skin folds of the scapula) decrease with age and compared to the peers from normal population are lower. For young players in all age groups dominate the mesomorphic component, and lower values have the endomorphic component, in regards to peers in the general population. The obtained results can serve as normative anthropometric indicators for regular sports medical examinations of young players in our country, or can be used as a template for comparison of the anthropometric and somatotype information of young players at a similar level of different countries.

Physical growth in young Chilean football players: Proposal of percentiles based on chronological and biological age

“…9 Results show that Chilean football players had lower weight values in all age ranges, whereas there were no differences in terms of height at 13 and 14 years, although significant differences were observed later from 15.0 to 18.9 years. This is a clear indication that, although young Chilean football players are smaller and lighter than the general American population corresponding to the CDC-2012 standard, their growth patterns were similar to those of young Portuguese and Macedonian football players; 13,15 however, in general, they showed lower growth patterns than Brazilian and Spanish football players. 12,14 Such differences may probably account for the small delay in biological maturation observed in young Chilean football players (15.1 ± 0.9 APHV), which is generally achieved by 14 years old.…”

“…Up until now, different international institutes [7][8][9] and some investigators have published percentiles to assess t h e a n t h r o p o m e t r i c , p h y s i c a l , and body composition profiles 10 of professional football players; 11 however, to our knowledge, to date no study has described reference values regarding the physical growth of young football players and there are even fewer studies that have described physical growth patterns among football players from different regions and countries. [12][13][14][15] The logic to understand growth charts is very simple, e.g., a child at any age may be classified in relation to other children of the same sex and age to assess his/her immediate growth; 3 however, their interpretation and analysis may be confused by the effects of biological maturation because the intensity and duration of puberty is specific to each subject and may differ considerably among individuals, 16 especially among football players who are still growing and developing.…”

Crecimiento físico en jóvenes futbolistas chilenos: propuesta de percentiles por edad cronológica y biológica

“…Esto es una clara muestra de que los jóvenes futbolistas chilenos, a pesar de ser más pequeños y menos pesados que la población general americana del CDC-2012, evidenciaron similares patrones de crecimiento con estudios efectuados en futbolistas juveniles de Portugal y Macedonia, 13,15 aunque, en general, respecto a los futbolistas brasileros y españoles, 12,14 evidenciaron patrones de crecimiento inferiores. Tal vez, estas diferencias observadas podrían explicar el pequeño retardo en la maduración biológica de los jóvenes futbolistas chilenos (15,1 ± 0,9 APVC), ya que, por lo general, se suele alcanzar a los 14 años.…”

“…[12][13][14][15] La lógica de la comprensión de los gráficos de crecimiento es muy simple, por ejemplo, un niño de cualquier edad puede clasificarse en relación con otros de su misma edad y sexo para evaluar su estado de crecimiento inmediato; 3 no obstante, su interpretación y análisis puede ser confundido por efectos de la maduración biológica, ya que la intensidad y la duración de la pubertad es específica para cada individuo y puede variar considerablemente entre los individuos, 16 sobre todo, en futbolistas en etapa de crecimiento y desarrollo.…”

Somatotype Differences in Young Soccer Players: A Chronological Age-Based Approach

“…Although the importance of anthropometry is recognized in the selection process and training of soccer players, there is an evident lack of precise and accurate research of anthropometric characteristics in players (Gontarev et al, 2016). Furthermore, the contribution of physique and body composition in soccer performance has been recognized, but physical fitness variables have not been well studied in adolescent players (Nikolaidis & Vassilios Karydis, 2011).…”