Introduction:

Identification of anthropometric variables related to performance in a given sport is a common topic of interest to health and sports professionals.

Objective:

Determine the influence of body mass index, fat mass, and fat-free mass on change of direction speed in young soccer players.

Methods:

A correlational descriptive quantitative study was conducted of a convenience sample of 21 soccer players. Change of direction speed was measured with the Meters Swerve Sprint Test, whereas body fat percentage was evaluated with an OMRON® BF-306 monitor. The data were analyzed with the statistical package PSPP, with application of the Shapiro-Wilk normality test and Pearson's correlational coefficient (confidence interval 95% and p-value 0,05).

Results:

Results show a normal distribution (p > 0,05). However, a significant relationship was not found between body mass (r = -0,29), fat mass (r = -0,06) and fat-free mass (r = 0,06; p > 0,05), and performance in the swerve speed test.

Conclusions:

The study found that there is not a significant relationship between body mass index, fat mass and fat-free mass, and change of direction speed in young soccer players.

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