Association between anthropometric parameters and explosive strength in under-15 and under-17 youth soccer players

Abstract

Football training requires physical assessment processes that allow for understanding how body characteristics influence sports performance, particularly explosive strength, a determining capacity in actions such as jumping, acceleration, and changes of direction. In this context, the objective of this study was to analyze the association between anthropometric parameters and lower-limb explosive strength, assessed through the countermovement jump (CMJ), in youth football players from the under-15 and under-17 categories of the Unidad Educativa Agronómico Salesiano. The research was conducted under a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, a descriptive-correlational scope, and a field-based study. The sample consisted of 50 football players who underwent anthropometric measurements following standardized protocols, as well as the CMJ vertical jump test using the MyJump2 application. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Shapiro–Wilk normality test, and Spearman’s Rho correlation, with a significance level of 0.05. The results showed significant associations between explosive strength and some anthropometric variables in the under-15 category, mainly segmental lengths and muscular circumferences, whereas in the under-17 category no statistically significant relationships were found. It is concluded that the relationship between the anthropometric profile and explosive strength depends on the developmental stage, being more evident at earlier ages, which supports the importance of including systematic anthropometric assessments to guide training planning in youth football.