Relationship between body composition, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test and vertical jump test in elite young soccer players

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to find out the relationships among body composition, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery (IR) test and vertical jump test in elite young soccer players. Material and Methods: Eighteen healthy young male soccer players (Age: 16.5±0.3 years, height: 178.0±5.9 cm, body weight: 65.9±7.9kg,) voluntarily participated in the study. Total and regional body composition parameters of the soccer players were examined through a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method. Vertical jump performance tests were squat jump (SJ) and active jump (AJ), and endurance performances were determined by the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (Yo-Yo IR1). Relationships among body composition, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test and vertical jump test were analyzed with Pearson Correlation coefficient. Significance level was taken as ≤0.05. Results: A statistically significant negative correlation was found between squat jump and countermovement jump (r=-0.588, r=-0.573, p<0.05), and the leg fat rate. However, there were no statistically significant relationship among squat jump, Yo-Yo IR1 and countermovement jump and other whole/regional body composition (p>0.05). Conclusion: Changes in body composition are important issues for the physical performance level of young soccer players, as local excess body fat may cause deterioration, especially in jumping performance.