Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Australian Strength & Conditioning, cilt.33, sa.1, ss.13-17, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
Understanding and addressing the physiological aspects of a sport is crucial for tailoring effective training regimens for athletes. The increasing popularity of female flag football, particularly its inclusion in the 2028 Olympics, marks the importance of understanding the physiological characteristics associated with the sport. In this context, this study aimed to identify the physical and physiological characteristics of female flag football players according to their playing status and game positions. A total of 26 female athletes (22.7 ± 2.4 years, training age = 23.3 ± 21.9 months, weekly sport-specific training = 6 ± 1.9 hours, weekly fitness training = 3.1 ± 2.4 hours) who actively participated in flag football training and University League matches were included in the study. Athletes were categorized into “First Team” and “Reserve Team,” where both categories include all positions: defensive back (n = 10), quarterback (n = 4), rusher (n = 3), and wide receiver (n = 9). Each athlete was assessed by anthropometry (height, body mass, and body fat percentage), flexibility (sit and reach), strength (grip strength), lower body power (countermovement jump), speed (20m sprint), and change of direction (T-COD). Results of the study showed that first and reserve team players have similar anthropometric characteristics. However, first-team players exhibited significantly (p< 0.01) higher scores in countermovement jump (first-team = 30.2 ± 4.1, reserve-team = 26.2 ± 2.1) and T-COD (first-team = 10.94 ± 0.56, reserve-team = 11.61 ± 0.59) tests. On the other hand, there were no significant differences among playing positions. The findings of this study might provide a better understanding of the functional capacities of female flag football players and the selection of the athletes.