title: Effects of a soccer season on anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness in elite young soccer players.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a soccer-training season on the anthropometric and performance characteristics of elite youth soccer players. Two groups (age: 14.4 years) participated in this study: (1) 24 soccer players training 8 to 10 hours per week and (2) 26 non-athletic boys used as controls. Anthropometric measurements, aerobic (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test level 1) and anaerobic (counter-movement-jump (CMJ), squat-jump (SqJ), five-jump-test (5JT), and speed (T5m, 10 m, 30 m)) performances were assessed twice during 8 months (T0: October; T1: May) of the competitive season. Data showed significant differences in height and weight at T0 between the two groups (P < 0.05), while no difference in the percentage of body fat (%BF) was observed. However, the soccer players were significantly taller and had lower %BF than age-matched controls at T1. Compared to the controls, the soccer players attained better results in the physical fitness test (P < 0.05) at T0 and T1 except in (T5m) sprinting speed. Hence, significant improvements (P < 0.05) in physical parameters were observed between T0 and T1 only in soccer players. The results demonstrate that soccer-training season was able to provide maturation free improvement in anthropometric and performance characteristics in young soccer players during the training season.
authors.affiliation: Movement, Sport and Health Sciences Laboratory, Rennes 2 University-ENS Cachan, Rennes, UFR APS, France.
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.forename: Abderraouf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Abderrahmane
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nebigh
authors.forename: Emmeran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Moal
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ben Ounis
authors.forename: Zouhair
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tabka
authors.forename: Hassane
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zouhal
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*