Influence of body composition in the physical fitness of 10- to 11-year-old football players

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to analyze the body composition and physical fitness of 10- to 11-year-old football players, analyzing the differences in physical fitness according to Body Mass Index (BMI) and percentage of fat mass (% FM), as well as the correlations between body composition and physical fitness. Methods: Twenty-eight male 10- to 11-year-old football players participated in the study, with an age range of 10 to 11 years (average age 10.39 years ± 0.49). The players performed the tests in abnormal training day. The variables assessed were: Body composition (Tanita BC 418-MA), blood pressure and heart rate (Visomat Comfort 20/40 arm blood pressure monitor), jump test (Abalakov jump on Optojump platform) and aerobic capacity test (Course Navette Test 20m, CN). The software used to perform the statistical analysis was SPSS Statistics 23.0. Findings: The analyses showed significant differences in maximal oxygen consumption (VO?max), BMI and % FM when comparing by age. With regard to BMI, significant differences were found in diastolic and systolic blodd pressure at rest (DBP and SBP), and, according to % FM, in rest DBP. The significant correlations between physical fitness and body composition according to BMI were negative in the variables of CN stage, CN distance, CN FSR (final speed reached), VO?max, and was positive in SBP and DBP. According to % FM, the significant correlations were negative in CN stage, CN distance, CN FSR, VO?max., and Abalakov jump (ABKJ), and they were positive in SBP and DBP. Conclusions: It is recommended to carry out intervention programs with the aim of improving the body composition of football players at school age, because this will have positive effects on their aerobic capacity, jumping and blood pressure.