Comparing Physiological Characteristics of High School Football Players to College and Professional Players

Abstract

0471 Performance variables, such as body composition, power, strength, speed, and agility have been shown to be key factors in the performance of successful college and professional football players. However, research addressing the relationship between these variables and the performance of high school football players is limited. Although limited, this research suggests that football players within any age group share unique characteristics, and therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the performance variables listed above are also essential for the successful performance of high school football players. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the anthropometric and performance characteristics of high school football players. METHODS: Thirtynine high school football players (14–18 years old) were measured for height, body mass, body composition (3-site sum of skinfold), muscular power (vertical jump, standing broad jump), muscular strength (bench press repetitions to fatigue 155 lb for 14–16 years of age and 185 lb for 17–18 years of age), speed (40-yard sprint), and agility (20-yard shuttle run). RESULTS: Mean (± standard deviation) for height was 1.7 ± 0.1 m, weight were 85.8 ± 15.8 kg, % body fat was 13.6 ± 7.9 %, number of repetitions for 14–16 year olds was 7.9 ± 7.42 reps and for 17–18 year olds was 11.7 ± 11.5, vertical jump was 20.0 ± 5.2 in, standing broad jump was 86.4 ± 25.8 in, 40-yard sprint time was 5.61 ± 0.57 s by electronic timer and 5.43 ± 0.59 s based on the average of three hand timers, and the 20-yard shuttle was 5.21 ± 0.57 s by electronic timer and 5.32 ± 0.56 s based on the average of three hand timers. CONCLUSION: Coaches and trainers can compare their players' results to the descriptive statistics from this preliminary study in order to: a) identify their team's best athletes for each starting position; b) identify each player's strengths and weaknesses for establishment of individualized training programs; c) identify proper selection of football players for the various positions on the team; d) predict each athlete's football playing ability (FPA); and e) determine a player's level of readiness to play in the upcoming season.