Topic: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AND ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NIGERIAN FEMALE DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE SOCCER PLAYERS IN ABUJA-FCT, NIGERIA
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The purpose of this study was to compare the physical fitness and anthropometric characteristics of Nigerian female defensive and offensive soccer players. To achieve the purpose of this study, we used stratified sampling technique to obtain a representative sample of thirty (30) female defensive players and thirty (30) female offensive players from five female soccer teams participating in National Competition in Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Female defensive players included those playing as goal keeper, right full back, left fullback and centre half back positions whereas female offensive soccer players included those playing in right forward, left forward and centre forward positions, including outside right and outside left. The instruments used were stop watch, whittles, 400 meter running track, calibrated stool, weighing scales, cross bars, horizontal broad wooden blade, etc. Age, height, weight, total arm length and total leg length of these players were recorded using standard, validated and reliable methods to represent anthropometric characteristics. Similarly, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and explosive strength of the lower limbs were determined by administering valid and reliable field tests to represent physical fitness characteristics. The results indicated that (1) female offensive players demonstrated greater flexibility and explosive strength than female defensive players. (2) female defensive soccer players were significantly taller and heavier than the female offensive players, depending on their playing experience. It was recommended that: (1) taller and heavier female soccer players should be selected for defensive positions. (2) female soccer players with height and weight but greater flexibility and explosive strength should be selected for offensive positions in soccer.
1.2 Statement of Problem
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. This game consists of two equal periods of 45 minutes, with a 15 minutes interval. There are 11 players from each team on the field. The players may be divided into four groups, which include goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. For the purpose of this study, goalkeepers and defenders are considered as defensive players, while midfielders and forwards are considered as offensive players. During the game, players are required to perform activities involving jogging, running forward and backward, kicking, turning, heading and throw-in. Several anthropometric characteristics, like body stature, weight, leg length and stride length, and fitness qualities, like speed, flexibility, endurance and strength are very important for high performance in soccer. Fitness is important at all levels of the game, while it is being essential for top level players, it is beneficial for beginners who will improve their performances through good standards of fitness. Soccer is one of those rare games which demands not only speed but also agility, strength, power, flexibility and endurance. It is characterized by short sprints, rapid acceleration or deceleration, turning, jumping, kicking, and tackling, (Bangsbo & Michalsik 2002). Soccer is a high intensive but intermittent sport. Intense bursts of activity last less than 15 seconds each. These are interspersed with periods of less intense activity (Svensson & Drust, 2005). Thus, the game poses several physical and physiological demands on different components of physical fitness and metabolic pathways (Plateinou & Geladas, 2006). Very few studies on female soccer players have been reported on the anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness of soccer players. (Reilly et al; 2000). Taiana et al (1993), have reported that with maximal strength of lower limbs of Soccer players’ speed in kicking performance was increased. Though it is widely accepted that speed and accuracy in kicking for goal shooting and passing are depend upon explosive strength, which is also known as power of lower extremities. Bjoern Ekblom in his book Football (Soccer) has reported that Strength in the lower limbs is of obvious concern in football, the Quadriceps, hamstrings and triceps groups must generate high forces for jumping, kicking, tackling, turning, and changing pace. It is evident from the review of literature that the performance in football is dependent on the skills, which is dependent on the physical fitness abilities of the players. Some of these studies compared physical fitness profiles of male and female soccer players (Helgerud et al; 2002). This investigator has not come across any study on anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness levels of female soccer players with different positional roles in Nigeria. It was therefore the purpose of this study to compare the anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness levels of Nigerian female defensive and offensive soccer players.
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