Selected physical attributes of male soccer players : a comparative analysis : sports research

Soccer is arguably the most popular sport in the world. Participating in soccer in today's he modern competitive environment requires competency in several fitness components. These competencies are necessary to cope with the physical demands of the sport. The use of fitness tests assists in examining soccer players' capabilities for performance at all competition levels. This study compares selected physical attributes of three male soccer teams of approximately 20 players each (all over the age of 17). Each team comprised a small, representative sample of the professional, semi-professional and amateur levels of soccer in Johannesburg, South Africa. A Premier Soccer league (PSL) team represented the professional level (Squad A; n = 22). A Vodacom Cup team represented the semi-professional level (Squad B; n = 18) and an university team (Squad C; n = 15) represented the amateur team. A field test battery testing the selected physical attributes was administered. Aerobic performance, anaerobic endurance, agility, power, and 20 m and 40 m speed attributes demonstrated a significant difference (p < 0.05) between professional and amateur players. Semi-professionals also exhibited a significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to amateurs for aerobic, anaerobic, agility and 40 m speed. Although the differences between the groups for each physical attribute were not always statistically significant, the noticeable differences in mean scores may relate to performance abilities and limitations.