Correlation between physical fitness parameters in 11-12-year-old hockey players with sports selection prospect

Aim. To reveal correlations between physical fitness parameters of 11-12-year-old hockey players and their sports selection prospects. Materials and Methods. We conducted a prospective study at the premises of youth sports school (ice hockey). One hundred and twenty male hockey players were divided into age groups (11-12-year-old, 13-year-old, 14-year-old, 15-year-old, and 16-year-old) and examined. We used standard anthropometric methods for study of body length and weight, and body mass index (BMI) calculation. The results of sports selection for youth hockey teams were assessed considering ranking of hockey leagues at the beginning of professional career. Results. At the age of 11-12, body mass and length and BMI were “above average” in most hockey players. From 13 to 15, the parameters of total body dimensions and BMI belonged to “average” and “above average” groups. The group of athletes with body weight and BMI “below average” was small and observed from 13 to 15 (body weight) and at 13 and 15 (BMI). Up to 30% of hockey players selected at first stages of specialization at 11-12 and 13 are not eventually included in youth hockey. Later, the players' chance to be selected for youth hockey league is growing. The successful selection for professional youth hockey is associated (as tendency) with body length in 11-12-year-old players and with body weight in 14-year-old players. Conclusions. At the age of 11-12 to 16, most hockey players have body length and weight above average population normal values. In most hockey players, BMI is higher than mean population values, except for 15-year-old athletes. There are correlations (as tendency) between parameters of physical development and selection for the professional career in youth ice hockey: body length (11-12 years) and weight (14 years).