Caracterização do perfil somatotípico dos atletas da equipe masculina de futebol de campo da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

Objective: To describe the somatotypic profile of the athletes of the men's soccer team of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte by field position. Methods: The anthropometric data and the somatotypic profile of the soccer athletes were analyzed and compared. The study was composed of n = 24, athletes of the men's soccer team of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, male. Age, height, body mass, arm and leg perimeters, subscapular, triceps, supraspinatus and leg skinfolds, bone diameter of the humerus and femur were measured from each participant in the study. The Heath & Carter method was used to calculate and classify the somatotype. For the analysis of the statistical data, the values of mean and standard deviation were used, in the form of descriptive statistics. Results: As for the Somatotype, the team was classified as Meso-endomorph, with mesomorphic value (mean = 4.1) being predominant when compared to endomorphic values (mean = 3.14) and ectomorphy (mean = 2.48), which indicates to be a contributing factor for a better physical performance in the sports modality. When we separated by field position, we saw that the goalkeepers have the highest values of Endomorphy and mesomorphy, and the lateral ones have the highest values of ectomorphy, indicating that each position tends to follow a pattern of somatotypic profile. Conclusion: The men's soccer team is within the standards seen in the literature regarding the somatotype profile. There are also specific characteristics that correlate according to the field position in which each player acts. However, more studies of the same theme, using a larger sample, should be performed, so that there are more conclusions about patterns of somatotype profile of university football players separated by field position. If possible, comparisons are made between the somatotypic profile and the physical performance of these athletes.