Differential contributions for soccer skills among secondary and high school elite male players

The aim of this study was to assess the contributions of the age, playing experience, selected anthropometric and motor fitness variables to soccer skills between secondary and high school male players. A total of 240 adolescent males were selected for the present study. Each of the secondary and high school adolescent groups, age 13–15 and 16–17 years consisted of 120 elite soccer players who represent the eight upper premier league teams in Iran. The age and playing experience were assessed in years by a questionnaire. The anthropometric measurements encompassed 12 items. Skin fold thickness measurements were taken using skin fold caliper at seven sites, and the motor fitness variables were six tests, which contained 50-yard dash, shuttle-run, sit and reach, vertical jump, Burpee and 1-mile run/walk. Soccer skill tests were administered the ball control with the body, ball control with the head, dribbling with a pass, dribbling speed, shooting accuracy and passing accuracy. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used in data procession. The age, playing experience, anthropometric and motor fitness variables contributed significantly to the variance of soccer skill tests (P<0.05) by two age groups, but in different combinations. In conclusion, the whole of the age, playing experience, selected anthropometric and motor fitness variables were shown as significant contributions to the six soccer skill tests by the two age groups.