title: Body composition and physical performance in men's soccer: a study of a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I team.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between body composition (BC) and physical performance (PP) in male collegiate soccer players and differences among positions and between starters and non-starters. Twenty-seven male collegiate soccer players were tested at the beginning of the 2003-2004 season (age = 19.9 +/- 1.3 years, height = 177.6 +/- 6.3 cm, body mass = 77.5 +/- 9.2 kg, body fat (BF) = 10.6 +/- 5.8 kg, and %BF = 13.9 +/- 5.8%). BC, vertical jump (VJ), speed (S), lower-body and total body power production (TPW), and estimated Vo(2)max were measured. Values found for BC were similar than the ones in the literature. Significant correlations were found between BC and PP ranging from -0.38 to 0.61 for weight, VJ, S, TPW, and Vo(2)max. BF showed a positive correlation with S (r = 0.60) and a negative correlation with Vo(2)max (r = -0.67). The values for BC and PP were similar in starters and non-starters with only TPW showing a significantly greater value in starters. It is apparent that all members of a team train to play owing to the long seasons and substitutions, and a high level of excellence is demanded of both starters and non-starters alike. Training programs that equally benefit both groups are important in soccer.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silvestre
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Carl M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Maresh
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kraemer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*