ANTHROPOMETRIC DIFFERENCES AMONG SOCCER AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: The importance of performance analysis in professional sports helps coaches to enhance the training process in sport teams. The aim of this study is to describe anthropometric characteristics and body composition profiles of elite soccer and basketball players, and to detect possible differences in relation to competition level. Material and methods:This study is conducted by the Institute of Medical, Experimental and Applied Physiology and Anthropology, Medical faculty – UKIM, Skopje. Seventy-nine male subjects were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups: forty-three soccer players (22.7, ± 5 years) from elite Macedonian soccer clubs and thirty-six basketball players (22.5, ± 4 years) from elite Macedonian basketball clubs. Results: There was no significant difference in body mass index, muscle content of body and bone content between the two groups, while a significant difference was found in body height (P < 0,001), body weight (P < 0,006) and fat content of the body (P < 0,0008). It is noted that basketball players are significantly taller than soccer players. This study also indicates that basketball players are significantly heavier, with higher fat content than the soccer players. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that, describing differences in anthropometric parameters may contribute to better management in sport teams with successful sport achievements. Key words: anthropometric parameters; soccer players; basketball players.