Influence of Upper and Lower Body Anthropometric Measures on An Aggregate Physical Performance Score in Young Elite Male Soccer Players: A Case Study

Abstract

Background:The present study aimed to determine the association of anthropometry-based characteristics with an aggregate score (AS) of physical performance in young elite soccer players. Methods: Sixteen under 15 elite players were enrolled. Among numerous anthropometrics variables, upper arm contracted (UACC) and relaxed circumference (UARC), corrected arm muscle area (AMAcorr), arm muscle circumference (AMC), thigh muscle circumference (TMC) and suprapatellar girths were also employed in this study. Players' physical performance was assessed by the change of direction (COD), 10 m and 20 m sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ) test, sprint with 90 • turns (with ball), and yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (Yo-Yo IRT1). The AS was computed by Principal Components Analysis technique with one component on normalized performance results. A stepwise regression analysis was conducted to assess potential association between anthropometry-based variables and AS. Results: Large negative correlations (r < -0.68) of AS with UACC, UARC, AMAcorr, and AMC were detected. UACC and TMC permits to accurately estimate AS explaining 60% of the total variance (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings demonstrated the importance of including anthropometry-based measures of both upper and lower body to the physical performance potential expressed by AS in elite youth soccer.

The Distinguishing Factor in Soccer Players is Aerobic Performance, not the ACTN3 Gene

“…These indirect measures are continuous timed runs or interval-based tests (Bangsbo et al, 2008;Buchheit, 2008). The soccer-specific Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery 1 test has also been frequently used to determine VO 2 max in these days (Rossi et al, 2022;Rodrigues Lopes et al, 2022). Nevertheless, data obtained from field tests like VO2 max may not be sufficient to determine sportive performance since it is affected by many factors such as physical, technical, tactical, psychological, and genetic factors requiring endurance, speed, strength, coordination, and quickness.…”