Evaluation of body composition and its relationship with physical fitness in professional soccer players at the beginning of pre-season (Evaluación de la composición corporal y su relación com la aptitud física em futebolistas professionales al inicio de
Authors: Figueiredo Diego Hilgemberg , Figueiredo Diogo Hilgemberg , Dourado Antonio Carlos , Stanganelli Luiz Claudio Reeberg , Gonçalves Helcio Rossi 
Published: November 2020

Abstract: The aim of the study was to compare the players characteristics and physical fitness parameters according to playing positions and to identify the relation between body composition and physical fitness in professional soccer players at the beginning of the preparation period. Sixteen professional soccer players participated in this study. Body composition was evaluated by air displacement plethysmography instrumentation (BOD POD®) and physical fitness with specific tests: Running Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST), Counter Moviment Jump (CMJ), Squat Jump (SJ) and Abalakov jump (ABK), Yo-yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 (Yo-yo IR1), agility test and flexibility. Kruskal Wallis test demonstrated no significant difference in all estimated body composition, age, height and physical fitness parameters according to three playing positions (p < 0.05). We verified a significant negative correlation between body fat percentage and the performance of CMJ, SJ, ABK, peak, mean and minimum power (-.51 to -.87) and a significant positive correlation with the agility parameter (r = .85). Regarding to lean mass percentage, a significant positive correlation was found with performance of CMJ, SJ, ABK and peak, mean and minimum power (.51 to -.82) and significant negative correlation with agility parameter (r = -.85). Based on the results, we concluded that at the beginning of a pre-season a higher body fat percentage is associated with a negative influence in physical fitness, thus confirming that a greater amount of lean mass percentage is positively associated with the initial level of physical fitness of professional soccer players.
Resumén: El objetivo del studio fue comparar las características de los jugadores y los parâmetros de aptitud física según las posiciones de juego e identificar la relación entre la composición corporal y la aptitud física em futebolistas profisionales al inicio del período de preparación. Dieciséis futebolistas profesionales participaron em este estudio. La composición corporal se evaluómediante instrumentación de plestimografia por desplazamiento de aire (BOD POD®) y aptitud física com pruebas específicas: capacidade anaeróbia (RAST), saltos verticales (CMJ, SJ y salto abalakov- ABK), resistência aeróbia, prueba de agilidade y flexibilidad. Kruskal Wallis no demostró diferencias significativas em todos los parâmetros estimados de composición corporal, edad, altura y condición física según las três posiciones de juego (p < 0.05). Verificamos uma correlación negativa significativa entre el porcentaje de grasa corporal y el rendimento de CMJ, SJ, ABK, potencia pico, media y mínima (-.51 to -.87) y uma correlación positiva significativa com el parâmetro de agilidade (r = .85). Em cuanto al porcentaje de massa magra, se encontro uma correlación positiva significativa com el rendimento de CMJ, SJ, ABK y potencia pico, media y mínima (.51 to -.82) y correlación negativa significativa com el parâmetro de agilidade (r = -.85). Com base em los resultados, concluimos que al inicio de una pré-temporada um mayor porcentaje de grassa corporal se associa com uma influencia negativa em la aptitud física, confirmando así que uma mayor porcentaje de massa magra se associa positivamente com el nível inicial de aptitud física de los futebolistas profesionales.