DIFFERENCES IN SOMATOTYPE COMPONENTS BETWEEN YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND NON-ATHLETES AGED 14–18 YEARS
Abstract
Somatotype is an important indicator of body morphological structure and its functional adaptation to specific physical demands. The developmental period between 14 and 18 years represents a critical phase characterized by significant changes in body composition, making this age range particularly relevant for comparative research among adolescents with different lifestyles. The aim of this study was to determine statistically significant differences in somatotype components—endomorphism, mesomorphism, and ectomorphism—between young football players and their non-athletic peers aged 14 to 18 years. The study was conducted on a total sample of 400 participants, divided into two equal groups: 200 young football players and 200 students not involved in organized sports activities. For each age group (14–18 years), 40 participants from both groups were included. Anthropometric measurements were performed according to a standardized protocol, and somatotype components were calculated using the Carter and Heath (1990) method. Statistical analysis was carried out using Student’s t-test for independent samples, following prior verification of data normality with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The results indicated that football players exhibited significantly lower endomorphism values compared to non-athletes across all age categories (p < 0.01), suggesting a lower percentage of body fat. Significantly higher mesomorphism values among football players were observed from the age of 16 onwards (p < 0.01), reflecting increased muscle mass associated with systematic training and sports maturation. Ectomorphism demonstrated variable differences, with football players showing higher values at ages 14, 15, and 18, which may be related to sports selection processes and the functional demands of football. These findings confirm the hypothesis that organized sports participation has a significant impact on the morphological development of adolescents and highlight the somatotype profile as an important basis for the selection and guidance of young athletes.