Anthropometric and Physiological Profiles of Hungarian Youth Male Soccer Players of Varying Ages and Playing Positions: A Multidimensional Assessment with a Critical Approach

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to create preliminary anthropometric and physiological profiles of Hungarian male soccer players belonging to different age categories (14, 15, 16, and 17–18-years) and assigned to different playing positions (forward, defender, midfielder, goalkeeper). Methods: Anthropometric and physiological profiles were created for four age groups: 14- (n = 20), 15- (n = 16), 16- (n = 22) and 17–18-year-olds (n = 23) representing the Hungarian soccer academy. Additionally, the variables were analyzed across the four player positions mentioned above. Results: The mean values of body mass, fat mass and BMI were within normal limits, although in some cases the anthropometric and body composition values were too high, particularly among the 17–18-year-olds. The mean values of HRrest were lowest among the 15-year-olds. The highest mean and maximal values of rVO2max and rVO2/AT [57.6 ± 8.12 (43.8–68.3) and 51.2 ± 7.24 (38.9–60.8) mL/kg/min, respectively] were noted in 14-year-olds. Goalkeepers performed significantly better than the remaining soccer players in terms of the most anthropometric and physiological characteristics, except for the Yo-Yo test (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The values of anthropometric parameters increased with age. As expected, the oldest group achieved the best results in the performance tests. Goalkeepers outperformed the players representing other playing positions in the tests when assessing lower limb strength, sprint performance (5- and 10-m distance), and agility tests. From a practical point of view, the presented anthropometric and physiological profiles of players representing different age groups and playing positions can be useful for soccer coaches, strength and conditioning specialists, and athletic trainers of other soccer clubs in terms of the individualization and optimalization of soccer training.

The effect of a 10-week TOCA Football System intervention program on sport-specific motor skills among junior footballers

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“…We also determined the biological age of the examined sample. The calculation of morphological age can be summarized with the following formula: where MA is morphological age, BH age is the age corresponding to the table value to which the subject's height is closest, BW age and PLX age are interpreted in the same way as for height, CA is calendar age, and C is any necessary correction ( 36 , 37 ). A bioimpedance measurement method was used to measure body mass, muscle mass, and body fat percentage (InBody 770; InBody Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea).…”

Regular soccer training improves pulmonary diffusion capacity in 6 to 10 year old boys

“…Although the improvement of the functional parameters; such as maximum VO 2 max and maximum aerobic power; after regular soccer training, has been shown in previous studies [ 7 , 20 ], the effect of soccer practice on the behavior of the pulmonary capillary bed in children remains unknown. This prompted us to evaluate the effects of soccer training versus a control on the transfer capacity of nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) in healthy prepubertal boys by measuring the alveolar volume, the pulmonary capillary volume, the membrane, and the pulmonary diffusing capacity at rest and directly after completion of a graded all-out test using the TL NO/CO double transfer method.…”