Anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of male South African youth soccer players.

Background: This study comparatively investigates the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of male South African players by age group, competitive level and playing position.

Methods: The sample consisted of 201 youth soccer players drawn from six sports academies in South Africa. Players were subjected to standardized protocols for anthropometric measurements (stature, body mass and body fat percentage) and physical fitness tests (flexibility, vertical jump, push-ups, sit-ups, muscle strength, agility, 30-m sprint and V̇O2max).