Differences in body composition and motor abilities in young football players playing in different positions

Football is a dynamic and physically demanding sport that requires specific biomechanical characteristics and abilities from players. The aim of this research was to analyze the differences in body composition and motor skills of football players depending on their position. The study involved 25 football players aged 12-15 years, competing at the highest level for their age group. The participants were divided based on their positions: defense (n=11; age - 15.13±0.39 years; height - 171.17±5.24 cm; body weight - 59.25±5.99 kg; BMI - 20.16±1.54), midfield (n=12; age - 15.14±0.40 years; height - 165.32±11.4 cm; body weight - 52.84±9.64 kg; BMI - 19.17±1.39), and attack (n=10; age - 15.11±0.37 years; height - 169.32±10.3 cm; body weight - 52.58±10.28 kg; BMI - 17.82±1.73). The results showed that there were no significant differences in muscle mass or subcutaneous fat between different positions (p > .05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in sprint times for 5m, 10m, 30m, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJarm), slalom test, slalom test with the ball, Zig-Zag test, or Zig-Zag test with the ball (p > .05). Further research with a larger sample size could provide additional insights and explanations for the lack of differences. In conclusion, although positional differences were expected, the results indicate that at the age tested, there are still no significant changes when it comes to different positions on the team.