Body composition in soccer players of different competitive level

Introduction Data on the body composition of soccer players i.e., a physical parameter relevant to performance 1-2, are relatively limited. Recently, some journal papers appeared dealing with the anthropometry and body composition of elite players 3-4, also in relation to identification and selection of talented soccer players5 or somatic differences according to the team position6. We investigated some anthropometric characteristics as well as body composition as determined by skin fold measurement in a group of agonist and non-agonist amateur soccer players. Materials and Methods A total of 48 male subjects were investigated over three months (March-May). They were aged 23.2±3.24 y, weighted 73.6±9.08 kg, and their mean height was 1.79±0.054 m; the mean BMI (kg/m2) was 22.9±4.16. Skin fold measurement was performed with a Harpenden caliper (Gima, Modena, Italy) according to standard procedures7. All anthropometric characteristics were compared for within group difference using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). In order to detect between group differences, a post-hoc Bonferroni test was applied where appropriate. Results Weight, height, and BMI were similar in the three groups (F=1.19, 2.85, and 2.69, respectively; p=n.s. for all). The Agonist were younger than Non-agonist and Control (F=13.92, p<0.0001); the two latter groups were of similar age. Comparison of individual skin folds showed significant difference in the three groups for the triceps (F=3.94, p<0.026), sub-scapular (F=5.08, p<0.01), mid-axillary (F=3.47, p<0.04), and front thigh (F=3.36, p<0.04) skin fold; the supra-iliac (F=2.87, p<0.067), abdominal (F=2.95 p<0.062), and chest (F=2.97, p