Anthropometric Characteristics and Somatotype Differences among Nigerian Soccer Players, in Relation to Playing Level and Playing Position

Introduction: Somatotype, as an evaluation of body types technique, has been studied for selection of competent sport athletes based on the correlation of sport’s performance with the “ideal” human physique. This study was aimed at describing the anthropometric and somatotype differences among Nigerian soccer players at different playing levels. Methods: A total sample of 64 subjects which comprised of 30 professional soccer players and 34 amateur soccer players within ages 19-28 years were selected. Ten anthropometric variables were measured which consisted of; height, weight, two girths, two bone breadths and four skinfolds. The Heath and Carter anthropometric method was used. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried on the data obtained out using the SPSS IBM software package, version 21. Results: The results showed that the mean somatotype for the professional soccer players was; 2.5-4.2-3.5 while that of amateur soccer players was; 2.7-2.7-4.2, with observed dominant somatotype categories as balanced mesomorph and balanced ectomorph respectively. Height, weight, BMI, ectomorphy and mesomorphy were significantly different between the two groups of playing levels (at p<0.05). However, the playing position showed no somatotypic variation at both playing levels. Conclusions: The result of the study showed that somatotype variation existed between different playing levels for the Nigerian soccer players.