The main aim of the mentioned research was to establish the differences in individual dimensions of anthropological status, motor abilities and specific abilities with the ball in soccer players of cadet and junior age and possible influences on the selection process. The sample of respondents was divided into two groups and consisted of 52 young soccer players, of which 30 were cadets and 22 juniors. The sample of respondents consisted of young players from clubs from the Split-Dalmatia County, from: NK Adriatic, NK Croatia Zmijavci, NK Omladinac and NK Orkan. The sample of variables consisted of a total of 12 variables that represented the following 4 categories: anthropometric characteristics, motor skills, specific skills with the ball and the soccer skill index. From the anthropometric characteristics, body height, sitting height and body mass were measured. The following tests were used to measure motor skills: medicine ball throw (3kg), standing long jump, slalom sprint and 20m sprint. The measurement of specific abilities with the ball included a slalom test with the ball and a 20m sprint with the ball. Based on the obtained test results, descriptive indicators were calculated for separate groups of cadets and juniors. T-test for independent samples was used to determine the differences between the observed groups. The results show that players of cadet and junior age differ statistically significantly in two variables of anthropometry (ATV- body height, ATM- body mass) and two variables of motor skills (MSD- standing long jump, MBM throwing medicine ball with half-squat jump). In other variables of motor abilities, and in variables of specific abilities with the ball, there are no statistically significant differences between cadet and junior soccer players. Emphasis in work with younger categories should be placed on the long-term process of development, in order to enable better success in the senior age.