A STUDY ON SELECTED ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABLES AND BACK MUSCLE STRENGTH IN STATE LEVEL FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF MAHARASHTRA

Abstract

Football is a sport composed of many athletic components and requires different physical attributes and skills from the individual. There are different playing positions which are goal keepers, defenders, mid fielders and strikers. Purpose of the study was to evaluate the relation between different playing positions with selected anthropometric variables and back muscle strength in state level football players. Design of the study was based on cross sectional research. Sample of 106 male footballers of age group 16-25 years were included in the study and were selected from various football clubs of Maharashtra, India. In results, statistically significant differences (p ?0.015-0.001) were noted in height, weight, tibia length, femur length and total leg length between goalkeepers and defenders. Statistically significant differences (p ?0.018-0.001) were noted in height, weight, tibia length, femur length, total leg length and trunk length between goalkeepers and mid fielders. Statistically significant differences (p ?0.019-0.002) were noted in height, weight, tibia length and total leg length between goalkeepers and strikers. There was no statistically significant difference between defenders and mid fielders; and between the mid fielders and strikers.

Keywords: anthropometry, back strength, football, kinetics.