Associations between Age, Body Composition, Balance, and Other Physical Fitness Parameters in Youth Soccer

Cíntia França, Francisco Martins, Adilson Marques (), Marcelo de Maio Nascimento, Andreas Ihle, Krzysztof Przednowek and Élvio Rúbio Gouveia
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Cíntia França: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Francisco Martins: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Adilson Marques: CIPER, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1495-751 Lisbon, Portugal
Marcelo de Maio Nascimento: Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, Brazil
Andreas Ihle: Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Krzysztof Przednowek: Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, Medical College, University of Rzeszów, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Élvio Rúbio Gouveia: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-12

Abstract: In sports, balance ability has been related to game performance and injury prevention. This study’s aims were twofold: (1) to analyze the balance performance of adolescent soccer players from different age groups; and (2) to examine the relationship between players’ age, body composition, balance, and other physical fitness parameters, such as strength and flexibility. In this study, 112 players from the under 15 (U15), under 16 (U16), and under 17 (U17) age groups participated. A one-way analysis of the variance was conducted to investigate differences between groups. Pearson correlations and hierarchical multiple regression were used to explore the relationship between variables. Regarding balance, the older group performed significantly worse in the stability indexes for both legs but significantly better in dynamic balance tests. Height correlated significantly and negatively with balance indicators. Both jumping tasks showed medium to large correlations with the sway indexes (−0.23 > r < −0.51). Although not significantly, body fat negatively affected balance, underlining the importance of monitoring body composition for players’ development. Overall, no substantial relationship was found between static and dynamic balance variables, and therefore, it is crucial to include both as complementary measures while evaluating youngsters’ postural balance.

Keywords: strength; age; posture; youngsters; flexibility; vertical jumping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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