Table 1.
Body composition in professional soccer players according to three playing positions at five different points across the season (mean ± SD, n = 17).
| T0 | T1 | T2 | T3 | T4 | Chi-square | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calf girth | ||||||
| All players | 37.15 ±2.14 | 37.64 ± 2.24 | 37.81 ±2.17 | 37.69 ±2.15 | 37.44 ± 2.07 | 18.28** |
| Defenders | 38.58 ± 1.53 | 38.85 ±1.77 | 38.87 ±1.66 | 38.85 ±1.71 | 38.45 ± 1.45 | 6.23 |
| Midfielders | 36.17 ±2.54 | 36.83 ± 2.78 | 36.65 ± 2.83 | 36.32 ± 2.58 | 36.08 ±2.51 | 12.48** |
| Forwards | 36.62 ± 1.56 | 37.16 ±1.72 | 37.92 ±1.31 | 37.94 ±1.30 | 37.84 ±1.47 | 12.93** |
| Sites 4 | ||||||
| All players | 33.51 ±6.57 | 30.08 ± 6.02 | 27.21 ±4.30 | 26.62 ±4.18 | 28.08 ±4.60 | 39.91** |
| Defenders | 36.12 ±5.98 | 31.20 ±4.16 | 27.98 ±4.22 | 27.27 ±4.19 | 27.85 ±3.32 | 16.00** |
| Midfielders | 30.18 ±5.78 | 27.85 ± 5.79] | 25.31 ±4.07 | 25.22 ± 3.43] | 27.10 ± 3.46 | 18.00** |
| Forwards | 34.36 ± 7.65 | 31.42 ± 8.37 | 28.58 ±4.75 | 27.51 ± 5.35 | 29.54 ± 7.20 | 9.28* |
| Sites 7 | ||||||
| All players | 50.35 ± 8.44 | 46.54 ± 7.95 | 44.44 ± 6.06 | 43.23 ± 5.83 | 45.21 ± 6.46 | 32.68** |
| Defenders | 52.92 ± 7.86 | 48.58 ± 6.91 | 45.92 ±4.51 | 44.33 ±4.18 | 45.48 ± 4.68 | 14.35** |
| Midfielders | 45.65 ± 6.49 | 41.37 ±5.96 | 40.93 ± 5.22 | 39.98 ± 4.05 | 43.45 ± 5.61 | 13.07** |
| Forwards | 52.90 ± 10.20 | 50.30 ± 9.21 | 46.89 ± 7.63 | 45.81 ± 8.23 | 46.98 ± 9.58 | 14.99** |
| Sites 8 | ||||||
| All players | 63.51 ±11.87 | 57.06 ±10.61 | 53.52 ± 7.89 | 51.99 ± 7.29 | 55.01 ± 7.96 | 42.09** |
| Defenders | 67.45 ± 11.01 | 59.18 ±8.13 | 55.25 ± 6.20 | 53.38 ± 4.82 | 55.22 ±4.36 | 15.60** |
| Midfielders | 57.18 ±10.54 | 51.33 ±9.18 | 49.42 ± 7.58 | 48.18 ±5.71 | 52.53 ±7.19 | 15.69** |
| Forwards | 66.38 ± 13.41 | 61.3 ±13.52 | 56.37 ±9.46 | 54.87 ±10.38 | 57.74 ± 12.11 | 14.24** |
| Lean mass | ||||||
| All players | 67.21 ±5.31 | 68.23 ± 5.49 | 69.01 ±5.11 | 68.95 ± 5.24 | 68.71 ±5.13 | 29.93** |
| Defenders | 69.88 ±4.37 | 70.84 ± 4.96 | 71.18 ±4.79 | 71.18 ±4.79 | 70.66 ± 4.24 | 9.73* |
| Midfielders | 64.16 ± 6.61 | 64.83 ± 6.52 j | 65.94 ±6.37 | j 65.94 ±6.37 j | 65.81 ±6.78 | 12.73** |
| Forwards | 67.68 ± 3.03 | 69.18 ±2.85 | 69.88 ± 2.86 | 69.88 ± 2.86 | 69.86 ± 2.28 | 11.68* |
| Fat mass | ||||||
| All players | 7.47 ±1.78 | 6.79 ± 1.54 | 6.35 ±1.17 | 6.24 ±1.16 | 6.56 ±1.21 | 30.83** |
| Defenders | 8.26 ± 1.54 | 7.23 ± 1.04 | 6.72 ± 0.97 | 6.58 ±0.81 | 6.74 ±0.62 | 13.33** |
| Midfielders | 6.30 ± 1.34 | 5.76 ± 1.09 | 5.58 ± 0.83 | 5.50 ± 0.60 | 5.96 ± 0.83 | 11.06* |
| Forwards | 7.94 ± 2.04 | 7.48 ± 2.04 | 6.83 ± 1.43 | 6.70 ±1.69 | 7.06 ± 1.90 | 12.00* |
between sessions.
T0 = Start of pre-season training; T1 = End of pre-season training:
T2 = Mid-season; T3 = End of mid-season; T4 = End of season.
**
Significant difference: p < 0.01
*
Significant difference: p < 0.05;