Exploring differences in body composition and physical fitness between U11 and U12 soccer players: Implications for health promotion and athletic performance

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Date
2026
Authors
Castillo-Rodriguez, Alfonso
Sánchez-Abselam, Omar
González-Fernández, Francisco Tomás
Callejas Rosales, Rafael
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Servicio de Publicaciones. Universidad dde Murcia
Abstract
Soccer is a highly demanding sport requiring the integration of physical, technical, and tactical skills. This study aimed to compare anthropometric characteristics and physical performance between Spanish male soccer players aged 11 (U11) and 12 (U12), and to examine the relationships between body composition and fitness variables. Forty-two participants (21 U11 and 21 U12) underwent assessments of height, weight, body fat percentage, BMI, countermovement jump (CMJ), 10-meter sprint, 505 change-of-direction test (505 COD), and estimated VO₂max. Results showed that U12 players were significantly taller, heavier, and had lower body fat percentages than U11 players (p< 0.05). Physically, U12 players outperformed U11 in CMJ height (+27.7%), sprint speed (+3.4%), change-of-direction ability (+3.9%), and aerobic capacity (+9.5%). Correlation analysis revealed that better body composition profiles, specifically lower fat percentage and BMI, were associated with superior physical performance metrics (p<0.05). These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring growth and body composition in youth soccer for optimizing training and talent identification. Early physical development appears critical for enhancing athletic performance, supporting individualized training programs that integrate physical and technical preparation.
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Keywords
Physical Performance , Body Composition , Sports Development , Physical Fitness , Youth Soccer
Citation
SPORT TK. Year 2026. Volume 15. Article 10.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10201/222521
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Sport TK Vol.15 (2026)
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