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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dc.contributor.authorCastillo-Rodriguez, Alfonso
dc.contributor.authorSánchez-Abselam, Omar
dc.contributor.authorGonzález-Fernández, Francisco Tomás
dc.contributor.authorCallejas Rosales, Rafael
dc.contributor.departmentSin departamento asociado
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-23T14:35:25Z
dc.date.available2026-03-23T14:35:25Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.description.abstractSoccer 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.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.format.extent15
dc.identifier.citationSPORT TK. Year 2026. Volume 15. Article 10.
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.707751
dc.identifier.eissn2340-8812
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10201/222521
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherServicio de Publicaciones. Universidad dde Murcia
dc.relationSin financiación externa a la Universidad
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International*
dc.rights.accessRightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/*
dc.subjectPhysical Performance
dc.subjectBody Composition
dc.subjectSports Development
dc.subjectPhysical Fitness
dc.subjectYouth Soccer
dc.subject.odsNo relacionado con ningún objetivo de desarrollo sostenible
dc.titleExploring differences in body composition and physical fitness between U11 and U12 soccer players: Implications for health promotion and athletic performance
dc.typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article
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