Predicting playing status in junior Australian Football using physical and anthropometric parameters. Issue 2 (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Woods, Carl T.E.; Raynor, Annette J.; Bruce, Lyndell; McDonald, Zane; Collier, Neil
• Is Part Of: Journal of science and medicine in sport. Volume 18:Issue 2(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 225
• Page End: 229
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Sports sciences -- Periodicals; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- physiology -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Sportgeneeskunde; 617.102705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2014.02.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-2440

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Objectives</title> <p id="spar0005">To use physical and anthropometric parameters to predict playing status in junior Australian Football.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Design</title> <p id="spar0010">Cross-sectional observational.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Methods</title> <p id="spar0015">Participants were recruited from the under 18 competition within the West Australian Football League and classified into two groups; elite (state representative; <italic>n</italic> = 50; 17.9 ± 0.5 y; 184.8 ± 6.9 cm; 80.6 ± 9.4 kg) and sub-elite (non-state representative; <italic>n</italic> = 50; 17.8 ± 0.6 y; 179.8 ± 5.4 cm; 74.4 ± 7.9 kg). Both groups completed physical/anthropometric tests inclusive of a 5 m, 10 m and 20 m sprint, an agility test, stationary vertical jump, dynamic dominant and non-dominant foot vertical jump, 20 m multistage fitness test, standing height and body mass. A multivariate analysis of variance was used to test the main effect of 'status' on the physical/anthropometric parameters, whilst logistic regression models were used to predict playing status using the physical/anthropometric parameters.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Results</title> <p id="spar0020">On average, the elite group were taller, heavier, had a greater stationary vertical jump, dynamic dominant and non-dominant foot vertical jump and higher maximal aerobic capacity as measured by the multistage fitness test (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). The combination of standing height, dynamic vertical jump non-dominant foot and the 20 m multistage fitness test were the strongest predictors of status (Akaike's Information Criterion = 96.35).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0030">Conclusions</title> <p id="spar0025">Despite mean differences in a number of parameters, the combination of standing height, dynamic vertical jump non-dominant foot and the multistage fitness test were the strongest predictors of status and thus important tests for initially identifying potential talent in junior Australian Football.</p> </sec> </abstract>