Influence of Biological Age on Certain Dimensions of the Anthropological Status of U-17 Soccer Players : Master's Thesis

Osnovni cilj ovog istraživanja bio je analizirati utjecaj biološke dobi na pojedine dimenzije antropološkog statusa kao što su antropometrija, motoričke sposobnosti i sposobnosti s loptom promatrajući razlike između biološki zrelijih i nezrelijih igrača. Uzorak ispitanika se sastajao od 30 mladih nogometaša prosječne dobi 16,58 ± 0,62 koji se natječu u U-17 uzrasnoj kategoriji (kadeti) s područja Splitsko-dalmatinske županije. Nakon provedenih mjerenja i testiranja u više klubova cjelokupan uzorak je na temelju biološke dobi podijeljen u dvije grupe; biološki zrelija grupa (N=13) i biološki nezrelija grupa (N=17). Uzorak varijabli sastojao se od ukupno 12 varijabli koje su predstavljale sljedeće 3 kategorije: antropometrijske karakteristike, motoričke sposobnosti i sposobnosti s loptom. Izračunati su deskriptivni pokazatelji za cjelokupni uzorak, ali i za odvojene grupe biološki zrelijih i nezrelijih. Za utvrđivanje razlika između promatranih grupa korišten je T – test za nezavisne uzorke. Rezultati pokazuju kako biološka dob statistički značajno razlikuje mlade igrače kadetskog uzrasta u varijablama antropometrije (ATV – tjelesna visina, ASV – sjedeća visina, ATM – tjelesna masa) i jednoj varijabli motoričkih sposobnosti (MBM – bacanje medicinke skokom iz čučnja (total body power). U ostalim varijablama motoričkih sposobnosti i sposobnosti s loptom biološka dob nema statistički značajan utjecaj na razlike između biološki zrelijih i nezrelijih mladih nogometaša. Prilikom selekcije mladih igrača potrebno je poznavati biološku dob svakog pojedinca i više se oslanjati na testove sposobnosti s loptom.The main aim of this research was to analyse the influence of biological age on certain dimensions of anthropological status such as anthropometry, motor skills and ball skills, observing the differences between biologically mature and immature players. The sample of respondents consisted of 30 young soccer players with an average age of 16.58 ± 0.62 who compete in the U-17 age category (cadets) from the Split-Dalmatia County. After measurements and testing in several clubs, the entire sample was divided into two groups based on biological age; biologically older group (N=13) and biologically younger group (N=17). The sample of variables consisted of a total of 12 variables representing the following 3 categories: anthropometric characteristics, motor skills and ball skills (soccer). Descriptive indicators were calculated for the entire sample, but also for separate groups of biologically mature and immature. T-test for independent samples was used to determine the differences between the observed groups. The results show that biological age statistically significantly differentiates young players of cadet age in anthropometric variables (ATV - body height, ASV - sitting height, ATM - body mass) and one variable of motor abilities (MBM - throwing medicine ball with a squat jump (total body power). In other variables of motor skills and ability with the ball, biological age does not have a statistically significant influence on the differences between biologically mature and immature young soccer players. When selecting young players, it is necessary to know the biological age of each individual and rely more on tests of ability with the ball