3 Centro Universitrio Abstract The objective of this study was to determine anthropometric and physical fitness
Adventista de So Paulo. characteristics of Brazilian male children and adolescents at the beginning of soccer training. In
Curso de Educao Fsica. this study, 282 male soccer players ranging in age from 10 to 13 years were evaluated. The athletes
So Paulo, SP. Brasil. participated in a formal soccer training program 3 times per week, with each training lasting 3
hours. Anthropometric and physical fitness parameters were obtained. The boys were divided into
4 Universidade Federal
de So Paulo. Laboratrio
age classes and prevalence data were analyzed using Pearsons chi-square test. Parametric data
de Fisiologia e Fisiopa- were compared by one-way ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test, when necessary. The results
tologia cardaca. Centro are expressed as the mean standard deviation and a p value <0.05 was considered to be signi-
Universitrio Adventista ficant. Growth, development, body adiposity and physical fitness characteristics were adequate
de So Paulo. Laboratrio and proportional to age among the boys studied (p<0.05). It was concluded that anthropometric
de Fisiologia do Exerccio. and physical fitness characteristics of young male elite soccer players improve with and are
So Paulo, SP. Brasil.
proportional to age. Children and adolescents greatly benefit from regular physical activity. The
Recebido em 23/07/09
present results show that young male soccer players present adequate anthropometric conditions
Revisado em 10/08/09 and physical fitness prior to the initiation of formal training at soccer clubs.
Aprovado em 22/01/10 Key words: Soccer; Growth; Child development; Fitness.
INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY
240
cm using a 30-cm anthropometer (Lafayette Instru- familiar with the equipment. Next, three maximal
ment Company, Lafayette, IN, USA)20. attempts were performed, with an interval of 60
Body composition was evaluated based on seconds between attempts, and the best result was
the following variables: percent body fat (%fat), used for analysis.
lean body mass, muscularity21, and Heath-Carter Agility was determined by measuring the time
somatotype23. Percent fat was estimated using the necessary for the subject to alternately pick up two
equations of Slaughter et al.20 as the sum of triceps small wooden objects (5 x 5 x 10 cm), covering a
(TR) and subscapular (SS) skinfolds25 [boys with a distance of 9.15 m. Back and hamstring flexibility
sum < 35 mm: %fat = 1.21 x (TR + SS) 0.008 x was evaluated by the sit-and-reach test. The maxi-
(TR + SS)2 3.4; boys with a sum 35 mm: %fat mum distance reached (cm), with one hand parallel
= 0.783 x (TR+SS) + 1.6]. Body fat weight was to the other and the knees extended, was used as an
calculated as follows: fat weight = %fat x weight / 100. indicator of back and hamstring flexibility. Lower
Lean body mass was determined by subtracting limb power was measured by the vertical jump test,
body fat weight from total body weight. Muscularity with assistance of the upper limbs and trunk move-
(cm2) was estimated using the following equation21: ment. The difference between the highest point
[arm circumference (p x TR)]2/4p. The Heath- reached after jumping and total height was used
Carter somatotype was calculated as described by as an indicator of lower limb power. In the agility,
Carter23. Additionally, the body mass index (BMI) flexibility and vertical jump tests the subjects made
was calculated as weight divided by the square of three attempts and the best result obtained in the
the height. tests was used for analysis.
Growth and development were evaluated by Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by
dividing the boys into three groups according to calculating VO2max after the 1,000-m run/walk test.
height-for-age and weight-for-age curves. Weight The time spent (in seconds) to finish the test was
was considered to be low if below the 3rd percen- used to calculate VO2max (ml/kg/min) as follows:
tile; height and weight between the 3rd and 97th VO2 = (652.17 time)/6.762.
percentile were defined as adequate, and height and
weight above the 97th percentile were considered to Statistical analysis
be high24. The boys were also divided into groups All results are expressed as the mean standard
according to the four BMI categories (low BMI: deviation. The boys were divided into groups
values below the 5th percentile; adequate BMI: according to age. Categorized variables (height,
values between the 5th and 85th percentile; over- weight, BMI and %fat percentiles) were ana-
weight: values between the 85th and 95th percentile; lyzed using Pearsons chi-square test. Parametric
obesity: values above the 95th percentile)24. Finally, data were compared by one-way ANOVA or the
the boys were divided into four groups according to Kruskal-Wallis test, when necessary. The results
%fat (underweight: %fat less than 10%; adequate were considered to be significantly different when
adiposity: %fat between 10% and 20%; excess body p < 0.05. The SigmaStat 3.5 for Windows statistical
fat: %fat between 20% and 25%; obese: %fat higher package (www.Systat.com) was used for analysis.
than 25%)22.
RESULTS
Physical fitness
Physical fitness was determined using the following A total of 282 young male soccer players were
tests: 1) isometric strength: handgrip, knee extension evaluated (Table 1). The boys height increased sig-
and elbow flexion26, 2) agility: shuttle-run19, 3) back nificantly with age as expected, whereas a significant
and hamstring flexibility: sit-and-reach test of Wells difference in body weight was only observed be-
and Dillon19, 4) lower limb power: vertical jump26, tween 13-year-old boys and the other age groups (p
and 5) 1,000-m run/walk test to estimate VO2max19. 0.001). The BMI of 13-year-old boys was significantly
Isometric grip strength was measured with a higher than that of 11-year-old boys (p = 0.003).
Jamar isometric dynamometer to the nearest 0.1 No significant difference in skinfold thickness was
kg (Bolingbrook, IL). Isometric strength of knee observed between age groups, except for subscapular
extension and elbow flexion were obtained to the skinfold thickness which was significantly lower in
nearest 0.1 kg using the Takei Physical Fitness Test 11-year-old boys compared to 10- and 13-year-old
dynamometer. After specific stretching and warm- boys (p = 0.047). ANOVA also revealed an increase
up, the boys made one or two attempts to become in bone diameter with age, but statistically signifi-
cant differences (p 0.001) were only observed for The results regarding body composition and soma-
12-year-old boys (bistyloid and humeral biepicondy- totype are summarized in Table 2. Adiposity, evaluated
lar diameters) and 13-year-old boys (bi-styloid and based on the sum of TR and SS skinfolds, sum of 11
femoral bi-epicondylar diameters). Girth measure- skinfolds (11SF) and %fat, did not differ significantly
ments increased with age, but statistically significant between the age groups studied. Lean body mass was
differences were only observed for 12-year-old boys significantly higher in 13-year-old boys when compared
(forearm and relaxed arm girths) and 13-year-old to the other participants (p 0.001). Arm muscularity
boys (flexed arm, leg and thigh girths). increased with age: 10 years = 11 years = 12 years < 13
Different superscript letters indicate statistically significant differences between age groups (p < 0.05).
TR: triceps skinfold. SS: subscapular skinfold. 11SF: sum of 11 skinfolds. LBM: lean body mass. Different superscript letters indicate
statistically significant differences between age groups (p < 0.05).
242
years (p 0.001). Somatotype analysis of the 282 male Growth and development data
athletes showed a predominance of mesomorphism Table 4 summarizes the results regarding the clas-
in all age groups, followed by ectomorphism, findings sification of young male soccer players according to
indicating a predominant development of muscle and growth (height) and development curves (weight
bone tissues, respectively. No significant differences and BMI) and body adiposity. Almost all boys
in the three somatotype components were observed showed adequate growth and development for their
between the different age groups. age. Height, weight and BMI values below the aver-
The results of the physical fitness tests are age for age were only observed in 1%, 3% and 4%
summarized in Table 3. Handgrip strength and of the boys, respectively. There was a low incidence
strength of knee extension were significantly higher of obesity and excess body fat as expected for boys
(p 0.004) in 13-year-old boys compared to the participating in this sport modality; however, 20%
other groups. Thirteen-year-old boys were also sig- of the participants were classified as thing.
nificantly stronger than 10- and 11-year-old boys in
the elbow flexion exercise. No difference in back or Table 4. Distribution of young male soccer players according
to the different anthropometric categories
hamstring flexibility was observed between groups.
Category Parameter
Lower limb power was greater in 12- and 13-year-
Anthropometry Height Weight
old boys compared to 10- and 11-year-old boys (p
Percentile < 3 4 (1%) 9 (3%)
0.001). The results of the agility test indicated a Percentile 3-97 253 (90%) 269 (96%)
significant increase in agility with age (p 0.001). Percentile > 97 25 (9%) 4 (1%)
Finally, VO2max increased significantly with age (p < BMI
0.001): 10 years < 11 years < 12 years < 13 years. Percentile < 5 11 (4%)
In order to better understand the influence of Percentile < 85 252 (89%)
age on the muscle strength of young male athletes Percentile < 95 18 (6%)
Percentile 95 1 (1%)
in the age groups studied, the values of the different
% Body fat
tests were divided by the respective lean body mass
< 10% 56 (20%)
and by the level of muscularity (Figure 1). No signifi- < 20% 181 (64%)
cant differences in the different strength/lean body < 25% 31 (11%)
mass ratios were observed between age groups. 25% 14 (5%)
Handgrip: sum of the strength of the left and right hand. Different superscript letters indicate statistically significant differences
(p < 0.05) between age groups.
Figure 1. Isometric handgrip strength (A), strength of elbow flexion (B) and strength of knee extension (C) in relation to lean body
mass (LBM) in 10- to 13-year-old male soccer players. NS: not significant.
244
15. Baxter-Jones A, Goldstein H, Helms P. The develop-
Acknowledgments ment of aerobic power in young athletes. J Appl Physiol
The authors thank all children and adolescents who 1993;75:1160-7.
participated in this study and the Sao Paulo Soccer 16. Kanehisa H, Kuno S, Katsuta S, Fukunaga T. A 2-year
Club. Special thanks are due to Ms. Lynne Portes follow-up study on muscle size and dynamic strength
Vaz for the revision of English language and style. in teenage tennis players. Scand J Med Sci Sports
2006;16:93-101.
17. Mantovani TVL, Rodrigues GA, Miranda JM, Palmeira
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