Positional Anthropometric and Performance Profile of Elite Gaelic Football Players

Shovlin, A, Roe, M, Malone, S, and Collins, K. Positional anthropometric and performance profile of elite gaelic football players. J Strength Cond Res 32(8): 2356–2362, 2018—The aim of the current investigation was to evaluate the variation in the anthropometric and performance characteristics of elite Gaelic football players with respect to position. One hundred forty-eight elite Gaelic footballers underwent anthropometric (height, body mass, sum of 7 skinfolds, and % adipose tissue) and performance (counter movement jump [CMJ] height, CMJ peak power, CMJ relative peak power, squat jump [SJ] height, SJ peak power, SJ relative peak power, 5-, 10-, and 20-m sprint times, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 [Yo-YoIRT2]) during “the early in-season” phase. Data were split into 5 positional groups (full back, half back, midfield, half forward, and full forward). Higher adipose tissue percentage estimate was observed in full forwards when compared with the half backs (p = 0.001), midfielders (p = 0.035), and half forwards (p = 0.021). Full forwards had significantly greater SJ (p = 0.036) and CMJ (p = 0.013) when compared with the midfielders with no other positional differences observed. No significant variation in sprint times was observed across the positions. When Yo-YoIRT2 was considered, full forwards and full backs completed significantly lower distances compared with the middle 3 positional lines of half backs, midfielders, and half forwards (p = 0.00). Th...
Source: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Original Research Source Type: research