Anthropometric and physical characteristics of youth soccer in Timor-Leste: A multi-dimensional analysis of male players in a developing country

The objective of this study was to analyze the growth, maturation, and physical characteristics of youth soccer players in Timor-Leste. Anthropometric and physical data were collected from 217 Under-15, Under-13, Under-11, and Under-9 male soccer players from five clubs. The anthropometric parameters included height, sitting height, and body mass. These allowed calculations of maturity offset, peak-height velocity (PHV), and body mass index (BMI). The Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test (Level 1), Shuttle Sprint and Dribble Tests, Horizontal Jump Test, and Slalom Sprint and Dribble Tests were recorded to make physical assessments. Results showed youth soccer in Timor-Leste presented with lower values of anthropometric and physical parameters compared to more developed countries. Under-9 soccer players were predicted an age at PHV earlier than the other age-categories (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in BMI between age-categories. Regarding physical assessments, Under-11 performed better on the Slalom Sprint and Dribble Tests compared to Under-13 (p < 0.001). This investigation offers the first insights into the maturational, anthropometric, and athletic qualities of youth soccer players from Timor-Leste. It hopes to provide impetus for researchers to work with other developing countries in this field to breed more generalizable findings, and so, support the implementation of developmental programs.