From long time ago, it is well known that body composition plays an important role in sport performance, especifically in the physical status. Consequently body composition has been studied in different sports such as basketball, 1 rugby 2 or soccer 3 in order to analyze athletes status. Numerous methods to evaluate body composition in athletes have been developed for instance anthropometric analysis, 2 bioelectrical impedance analyzer 3 or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. 4 Anthropometry is the study of the size, the form, the proportionality, the composition, the biological maturation and the body function of humans. This technique allows relating corporal measures in form, proportions and compositions with a specific sport function in athletes. 5 Anthropometry sizes body weight, height, wingspan, skinfolds, perimeters, diameters and lengths. From these data, it is possible to obtain information about body fat mass, body composition and somatotype. 6 Somatotype method is used to analyze body composition in humans which is classified in three different component mesomorphy (related to muscle mass), endomorphy (related to fatness) and ectomorphy (related to linearity and slenderness). 7

Especially in soccer, anthropometry techniques have been widely used in last times. A study 8 analyzed anthropometric characteristics and somatotype of young players at different ages (14–18 years) from teams of the First Macedonian league (n = 486) and compared the results with data from general population. Obtaining players at 14 years showed significant lower values of muscle and fat mass. They also discovered that in all age soccer groups mesomorphy component of the somatotype dominated. Furthermore, athletes presented smaller values of the fat and endomorphic component and greater muscle and mesomorphic component in comparison with general population. Another research 9 identified anthropometric and somatotype characteristics of Italian young players (n = 112). The mean results showed a high muscular and low adipose profile. They found differences in playing position between anthropometric data and somatotype value. Based on these studies, it seems clear that soccer players present different anthropometric and somatotype profiles to the general population and these values could change depending on the playing position.

Casajús 10 evaluated fifteen players from the Spanish First Division to analyze seasonal variations in anthropometric variables from the beginning to the middle of the season. Significant variations (mean ± standard deviation) were found in fat percent (8.6 ± 0.91% versus 8.2 ± 0.91%) and in the sum of six skinfolds (57.0 ± 8.67 mm versus 52.9 ± 8.61 mm). Another paper 11 analyze the dietary intakes and anthropometric profiles got the least percentage of body fat (11.3 ± 1%) where found in players that consumed significantly less fat in their diet, an adequate carbohydrate ingestion for athletes (52.2 ± 5% of energy intake), nothing of alcohol and micronutrients intakes above the dietary reference values. So it seems that dietary habits could affect to body composition and consequently influencing to sport performance. Additionally, a previous investigation 2 found eighteen rugby players with body composition values away from the recommended body composition profile at the preseason. After applied personalized plans of diet and training, changes in body composition were reported at the end of the season. Obtaining data close to reference values of professional players.

Obviously, several methods have been developed to analyze dietary habits in athletes weigh food intakes, food frequency questionnaires, 24 h count questionnaires or specific nutritional questionnaires. One of them is Kidmed questionnaire, this method evaluate the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), a well-known healthy dietary pattern. One study 12 evaluated the relations between Kidmed results and anthropometric characteristics in ninety elite women paddlers. A medium or excellent adherence was observed. However, useful nutritional information was obtaining from this questionnaire, such as the fact that 20% of paddlers ate sweets more than once a day or that 33% didn’t eat nuts.

The purposes of this research were to determine the morphological characteristics, fat body mass, somatotype and dietary patterns of youth soccer players from an amateur Spanish team.

In Table 1 can be observed mean values and standard deviations of anthropometric data obtained from players studied. Values in function of different positions are also shown in Table 1.

Results obtained of dietary patterns analysis can be observed in Fig. 1. These data were shown on percentage scale. 75% of players consumed a fruit daily, 18.75% took a second fruit each day. 43.75% took vegetables once a day, 18.75% ate vegetables more than once a day. 31.25% of athletes evaluated went more than once a week to a fast-food restaurant.

Fig. 1.

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Yes/no answers to sixteen Kidmed items. Values are exposed on percentage. Data for sixteen soccer players studied.

Kidmed Indexes were: goalkeeper (7.00 ± 1.41), defenders (5.33 ± 5.03), fullbacks (5.50 ± 0.70), midfielders (6.83 ± 2.22), strikers (5.33 ± 3.78) and global players sample (6.12 ± 2.77).

Table 2 shows results of somatotype analyses, the sum of six skinfolds, the sum of eight skinfolds and body fat percentage.

Somatotype classifications were goalkeepers (endo-mesomorph), defenders (meso-ectomorph), fullbacks (meso-ectomorph), midfielders (balance mesomorph), strikers (balance mesomorph) and global players sample (balance mesomorph). These results can be observed in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2.

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Somatotype components (endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectormophy) representation. Somatoplots of goalkeepers, defenders, fullbacks, midfielders, strikers players and global average.

The global fat percentage obtained in players was 9.16 ± 2.12%. The average somatotype was (2.56-3.73-2.77). Dietary patterns analysis showed variables nutritional habits, outstanding that 75% took one fruit each day, 18.75% of players consumed more than one fruit and only 18.75% ate more than one vegetable each day. These data show that many players may present inadequate nutritional habits.

Perroni et al. 9 explored the differences in anthropometric and somatotype characteristics among categories, subcategories and playing position in Italian young soccer players (n = 112). When we compared our somatotype results with the age categories corresponding to the same age Allievi “A” (16 years) and “Juniores” (older than 17 years), it is possible to observed similar somatotype values components (endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph). They found significant differences among goalkeepers and the other player's position in endomorphy in according with our discoveries where the goalkeepers endomorphy value was the highest. Significant differences were obtained among goalkeepers and with defenders (all kind of defenders) and midfielders in ectomorph component. While we have observed ectomorphy values in agreement with this theory. Basing on these similarities, it seems that the results obtained in the current study would possibly obtain in a higher sample of players.

Another investigation 8 analyzed changes in the anthropometric characteristics and somatotype in youth Macedonian soccer players. To evaluate body composition, they have used the Matiegka's formulas in contrast with our study where the Carter's equation has been used to determine fat percentage. This could explain the differences in fat percentage found in the previous study: players aged sixteen years (14.71 ± 1.47%), players aged seventeen years (14.64 ± 1.46%) and players aged eighteen years (14.38 ± 1.42%) compared with the fat percentage obtained in the present paper (9.16 ± 2.12%). Additionally, lower values in some skinfolds (biceps, triceps, thigh, subscapular, calf and abdominal) in sixteen, seventeen and eighteen players from this previous study in comparison with the results of data from athletes of this study. Another study 10 determined seasonal variations in anthropometric data from Spanish professional soccer team (n = 15). They recollected anthropometric data at the beginning of competitive season and at in the middle. In the second examination, these soccer players presented the sum of six skinfolds 52.9 ± 8.61 mm, a body fat percentage 8.2 ± 0.91% and a somatotype values: endomorphy (2.4 ± 0.52), mesomorphy (4.8 ± 0.88) and ectomorphy (2.3 ± 0.73). These values are lower than the results of the current study and indicate a better body composition. We speculate that these differences could be explained by the degree of sport professionalism due to in the previous research professional players were evaluated while we analyzed amateur players.

Another investigation 19 evaluated anthropometric characteristics from Chilean professional soccer players (n = 406). They observed differences in height, weight and fat mass in players from different positions and as result each player has his specific position in function of his body composition. Slightly lower values were observed in the sum of six skinfolds in this previous study in comparison with the data from the present study. However, it is probable that the professional level of these players could have influenced in these better results. Goalkeepers present significantly higher values for the sum of six skinfolds as this idea has been mentioned before in this paper. Additionally, a recent paper 20 described somatotype profiles of Chilean professional male soccer players (n = 100) (23 ± 4.4 years). As in the present study, goalkeepers showed the highest weigh. They also found that each position presented a different dispersion to the medium somatotype. This information must be taken in consideration in order to morphologic optimization in a specific position in the field.

To asses dietary habits in ninety elite women paddlers, they self-completed Kidmed questionnaire. 12 85.56% of the paddlers took one fruit each day, 53.33% consumed a second fruit daily. 76.67% took vegetables once a day and 30% ate more than one ration a day. Any athlete analyzed went to a fast food restaurant. 90% of paddlers consumed dairy products for breakfast. While the answers to Kidmed questions in the current study are closer to another previous studies 21–23 which analyzed Mediterranean diet adherence in youth general population. Possibly, dietary patterns of players evaluated in the present study are not completely adequate for athlete population because their answers are not similar to answers observed in athletes evaluated with the same method. 14 Nutritional directions could be really useful to improve body composition and probably soccer performance.

The discoveries would be of interest to coaches and medical services of young soccer teams. Anthropometric measures and dietary patterns tests would be necessary in order to prescribe personalized training and diet plans in youth soccer players from a non-professional teams.

We admit that the study has limitations, the mean is that we cannot measure significant anthropometric differences in players position due to the sample size. Other limitations would be that we only have studied Spanish amateur male soccer players so consequently, we cannot extrapolate our results to all soccer players or team sports.

Body fat percentage, the sum of six skinfolds, the sum of eight skinfolds and somatotype results are in agreement with previous studies where youth non-professional soccer players were analyzed. Other studies have obtained lower values in body fat percentage or in the sum of six skinfolds due to they have evaluated professional soccer players. Anthropometric measures would be important to prescribed personalized diet and training plans.

The present research did not receive any kind of finding.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.