[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the somatotype and physical
characteristic differences among elite youth soccer players. [Subjects and Methods] In the
present study, we evaluated twenty-two Korean youth soccer players in different playing
positions. The playing positions were divided into forward (FW), midfielder (MF), defender
(DF), and goalkeeper (GK). The participants’ lean body mass (LBM), fat free mass (FFM),
fat mass (FM), and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were measured and their somatotype
determined according to the Heath-Carter method. [Results] The youth soccer players had
twelve ectomorphic, eight mesomorphic, and two central predominant types. The DFs were
taller than, but otherwise similar in physical characteristics to the FWs and MFs. The GKs
were taller and heavier than the other players; however, their somatotype components were
not significantly different. LBM, FFM, and BMR were significantly higher in GKs than in
FWs and MFs. Although LBM, FFM, and BMR values between GKs and DFs showed large
differences, they were not statistically significant. [Conclusion] The present study may
contribute to our understanding of the differences in somatotype and body composition of
Korean youth soccer players involved in sports physiotherapy research.