SELECTED PHYSIOLOGICAL PROFILE AMONG MALAYSIAN 3^rd TIER FAM LEAGUE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Mohd Syafiq Miswan¹+ Norasrudin Sulaiman²

¹Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, MARA University of Technology (Perlis), Malaysia

²Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, MARA University of Technology (Shah Alam), Malaysia

Keywords: Fitness, Football position, Physiological assessment

Article History: Received: 27 April 2015, Revised: 15 December 2016, Accepted: 10 January 2017, Published: 25 February 2017

Contribution/ Originality: This study contributes on existing literature about the important of understanding physiological characteristics between positions in football match in Malaysia Super League 3^rd Tier perspective. This can lead to a better selection and training of player process accordingly and improve overall Malaysia football League Performance.

1. INTRODUCTION

Football is classified as a high intensity intermittent team sport (Bangsbo, 1994). They have several fitness components that have been identified as essential for the particular team to be a successful team. In modern game where positions in football field are evolved, there are differences in tactical and strategy layout which compose different new positions. However, there are four basic positions in football team. The positions are goalkeeper, and outfield players (defender, midfielder and striker). Previous researches were shown the differences demand of the physical fitness and anthropometric accordance to the positions of play (Reilly and Thomas, 1976; Ekblom, 1986; Van and Boutmans, 1988; Bangsbo et al., 1991; Reilly, 1997; Rienzi et al., 2000; Mohr et al., 2003; Bloomfield et al., 2005). Positional of players in the field determines and influences the physiological demand, the total energy expenditure and also the bioenergetics requirement. The players may experience differences in those areas because of the positioning and tactical play (Reilly and Thomas, 1976; Reilly, 1997; Di Salvo and Pigozzi, 1998).

Previous study showed those midfielders covered greater number of distance compared to defender and striker because the role of midfielder is to link play between defender and striker. The goalkeepers only covered four kilometers since the roles of the goalkeepers are to protect the goalpost and prevent the opponent from scoring. Strikers have been found to commit more sprint activity than other outfield players (Bangsbo et al., 1991). The strikers are usually getting long balls and forward run during attacking plays and they have to beat the opposite defenders to score the goal. Furthermore, the high intensity activities during games such as tackling, long passing, jumping and powerful heading which are in certain situation in the game also give extra physiological stress to the players. For example, the strikers are more engaged in the situation where they have to heading and jumping or shooting while the defenders are more engaging on tackling of the ball during the defensive play (Bangsbo, 1994).

The purpose of this study is to determine and develop the physiological profile of a 3^rd tier Malaysian football league players based on their playing position. The results of this study would be potentially useful in terms of assisting coaching staff for reference values of fitness characteristics according to specific playing positions in football. The information obtained from this study might be useful to the football clubs, organizations, teams, and coaches that are responsible for the team tournament preparation, in terms of specific positions requirement. It is critical to assign the players with the appropriate positions that match their physical fitness and physiological of players.

2. METHODS

Twenty eight players of Sime Darby Football club participated in this study. The team consisted of players that were assigned to four different playing positions; goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker. They were required to undergo the physical fitness and physiological testing process, approximately for two separate weeks upon requesting by team coach required in the training schedule during training session (20^th until 22^nd January 2010 and 3^rd until 4^th February 2010). Antropometric measurement including weight, height, and skinfold measurement (7-sites) were held during 20^th until 22 january 2010. The test was held in the morning until all tasks are finished.

Height was measured with the subject barefoot and standing still using Seca height stadiometer (Vogel and Halke, Hamburg). Weight was measured using a portable Seca metric scale (Vogel and Halke, Hamburg). Each participant was measured twice, and the mean of the two measurements was used. The measurement of height and weight was taken to nearest 0.1 cm and 0.1 kg respectively, and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Body fat percentages were estimated of seven sites skinfold using harpenden skinfold calipers. All the measurements were recorded on the right side and to the nearest one decimal point in millimeter. All the protocols of measurement are followed accordance to the guidelines set by International Standard for Anthropometric Assessment (ISAK) and calculated using formula by Withers et al. (1987) and Siri (1961).

Physical fitness component testing was held on the 3^rd until 4^th February 2010. Selected fitness testing were speed (30 meter maximal sprint), Squat Vertical Jump, and aerobic capacity (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test level 1) for first day of the testing. Agility (Illinois Agility run test), muscular strength endurance (maximum Push Up) and anaerobic capacity (Repeated Sprint Ability test) were held for second day of the testing. Enough recovery time (10 to 15min) is allowed for every testing component and proper standard warm up and trials were allowed to familiarize the testing. Speed was measured over 30 meters with a set of electronic timers (Swift Power timer, Swift Performance Equipment, Australia). This test was conducted from a standing start, with timing started immediately after the subject passed the starting line. Two trials were performed and the fastest time was recorded. The squat vertical jump was measured using Swift Timing Module of jump mat. When it is ready, the subjects were asked to stand on the contact mat with their hands placed on their hip and feet flat on the mat, shoulder-width apart. The subjects were instructed to jump as high as possible and to keep their hands on their hips throughout the duration of the jump. The subjects assume a semi-squat positions with knee bent to ~90 degrees. Two second after assuming this squat position and on the tester command, the subjects immediately extend their knees and hip to jump vertically off from the mat as high as possible; the subjects landed on the balls of their feet in an upright, extended position and at the same point of takeoff. Each performed three trials and the best of maximal trial was recorded. Jump peak power and relative power were calculated (Sayers et al., 1999). Aerobic capacity was estimated from the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (Bangsbo et al., 2008). The objective of the test was to run for a 20 m long lane, keeping to the speed indicated by the ‘beeps’ on the recording. Then, the subjects have ten seconds to recover and continue running with pace of the beep sound. Two warnings were given when the subjects cannot complete the course in the allocated time. Maximal oxygen uptake was estimated based on formula by Bangsbo et al. (2008) and the distance covered was recorded.

The agility test requires each subject to sprint from the starting line to the finishing line followed by agility Illinois test course (Hachana et al., 2013). Two trials were allowed for each subject and the best time was recorded. The maximum number of push ups was measured as an indicator of the strength endurance of the subjects. The subjects had their hands and toes touching the floor, body and legs in a straight line, the arms shoulder width apart, extended and at a right angle to the body. The subjects lowered the body until there was a 90-degree angle at the elbows, and then returned to the starting position with the arms extended. This action was repeated until the subjects are exhausted. Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA) measures the ability to perform repeated sprints at the highest possible speed (anaerobic capacity) using Swift Power Timer light gate. The subjects perform standardized warm up, and then execute three to five sub-maximal twenty meter sprints, progression from 50 to almost 100% of their perceived maximal effort intensity. This was followed by another five to eight minutes passive rest before the actual test. Subjects were instructed to sprint maximally for every sprint and pacing was discouraged. From a standing stance, 0.4 meter behind the starting gates, the subjects sprinted a distance of twenty meter six times, with twenty seconds of active recovery interspersed between the sprints. Subjects then recovered by jogging around the ten meter cone and back to “start line” of the next sprint. The following performance indices were noted: i) RSA mean time, the mean from the six repetitions of sprint ii) RSA best time is the best from the six repetition of sprint and iii) RSA percent decrement is the fatigue index from the six repetitions of sprint (Aziz et al., 2008).

The subjects were assigned to a group based on their positions. The results were analyzed using standard descriptive statistics (e.g. mean, standard deviation), while ANOVA was used to examine among group variability with Tukey Post Hoc applied to identify sources of significant. All data were analyzed using SPSS (version 16.0) using p<.05 to indicate statistical significance.

3. RESULT

A total of twenty eight [n: 28; mean (±SD) age 24.78 (±3.28); height 172.69 (±4.63) cm; and weight 71.19 (± 8.42) kg] of footballers of Sime Darby FC participated with difference positions of play in the field (goalkeeper: 4, defender: 11, midfielder: 8, striker: 5). Demographic and physical Characteristics (Table 1)

There was no significant difference in height, body fat percentages, and body mass index (BMI) score between all four different groups of position play. However, there were significant difference in weight between Goalkeeper vs Defender (p = 0.0037); and lean body weight between Goalkeeper vs Defender (p = 0.0033).

Table-1. Demographic and Physical characteristics

*Significant different between Goalkeeper vs Midfielder (p = 0.037)

**Significant different between Goalkeeper vs Midfielder (p = 0.033)

There was no significant difference in mean score for squat vertical jump, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 test, 30m sprint, Repeated Sprint Ability (except RSA best time score) and maximum push up. However, there were significant difference in Illinois Agility score between Goalkeeper vs Defender (p = 0.001), vs Midfielder (p = 0.001), and vs Striker (p = 0.001). It also shows significant difference between Defender vs Striker (p = 0.001). For Repeated Sprint Ability Test, it shows significant difference in terms of RSA best score between Goalkeeper vs Defender (p = 0.013), vs Midfielder (p = 0.020), and vs Striker (p = 0.046).

Table-2. Physical Fitness Assessment

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