Dr. Alvaro Velarde, researcher and coordinator of the Sports Area of the Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana (Iberoamerican University Foundation, FUNIBER), participates in a study that analyzes the body composition and somatotype profiles of young professional soccer players from Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Soccer is known as one of the most complex sports worldwide and requires a comprehensive approach to achieve optimal performance levels. Within that approach, anthropometry plays a fundamental role. The intermittent nature of the sport involves efforts of varying intensity, alternating with pauses and incomplete recoveries. Coaches and athletes are increasingly recognizing the importance of staying physically fit to adapt to the demanding requirements of soccer.
Professional soccer players often experience changes in body composition from fat mass to lean mass. This is crucial for improving recovery time and resistance to fatigue. However, these variations in body composition are not directly related to performance, especially in eccentric overload training.
It is a challenge for athletes to maintain adequate levels of body composition. It has been observed that young soccer players often experience higher levels of perfectionism and dissatisfaction with their body image, despite being in good physical condition. This can have negative repercussions, promoting inappropriate eating behaviors and even eating disorders. Therefore, it is crucial to control caloric intake and adapt eating habits appropriately to the different stages in order to be in the best condition.
On the other hand, the playing position in soccer also affects body composition, as each has different energy requirements. Anthropometric and body composition indicators not only influence specific player attributes, but also play a crucial role in distinguishing between successful and less successful players, as well as affecting motor coordination and physical performance measures. It is also worth mentioning that somatotypes, which classify body shape and composition into endomorphs, mesomorphs and ectomorphs, provide valuable information about the physical and body characteristics of soccer players.
In the field of sports medicine, it is important to understand the relationship between body composition and sports performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the anthropometric and physical characteristics of U-19 and U-20 professional soccer players from Guayaquil, Ecuador, in order to more accurately tailor training programs and understand the unique attributes associated with different playing positions.
Relevant results of the study
In the overall analysis of body composition variables within each category, significant differences in body and muscle mass were found, regardless of playing position. In the U-20 category, players presented greater body and muscle mass. An important finding was found in the analysis of goalkeepers, where no significant differences in body composition were observed between both categories. However, in the U19 category, the goalkeepers presented higher percentages of fat and body mass. This is explained by the physical demands required for the role, since the daily energy expenditure of an elite goalkeeper can be 600 kcal higher than that of other players in the same team.
For their part, midfielders, especially in the U-20 category, showed higher body mass and height compared to midfielders in the U-19 category. In addition, it was observed that the U-20 midfielders presented the highest fat percentage in their category.
When examining the somatotypes of the players, it could be observed that, in both categories and playing positions, a balanced mesomorph somatotype prevails on average. This supports the idea that this somatotype is predominant in professional soccer players.
Finally, the results of this research go beyond performance indicators, as they provide relevant information on the health and nutritional needs of athletes. In addition, they provide a solid basis for designing personalized training programs that contribute to injury prevention and improved athletic performance.
To learn more about this study, click here.
To read more research, consult the UNEATLANTICO repository.
The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) promotes several study programs in the area of sports, such as the Master´s in Sport Performance Optimization. A program that provides students with the knowledge, training and tools to plan, develop and evaluate training proposals. This is your opportunity to turn your passion for training into a professional career, study this master’s degree and lead the field of sport with innovative training!