Cultural and Sport Status Influences on Fitness in Japanese and U.S. High School Soccer Players

Abstract

0470 In Japan, student-athletes entering high school are encouraged to focus on only one sport while in the U.S. they are more likely to play more than one sport during a year. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of single- v. multi-sport participation on general aspects of fitness. Additionally, this study provided a first-ever cultural comparison of fitness between Japanese and U.S. high school athletes. High school-aged soccer players were tested in Japan (n = 15) and in the U.S. (n = 28) in the 20 m shuttle run, 30 m sprint, standing long jump, sit and reach, agility t-test, and slalom dribble test. Half the U.S. student-athletes (n = 14) played a second sport during the winter or spring season. ANOVA followed by pair-wise contrasts showed Japanese to be faster (p <.01) and more agile (p <.01) than U.S. student-athletes. Moreover, the Japanese had greater estimated VO2max (p <.05) than U.S. students. There were no statistically significant fitness differences between those students who played a single sport verses those who participated in more than one sport in a year. It is also noteworthy to point out that U.S. and Japanese student-athletes were not significantly different with regard to height, weight, or soccer skill (i.e., slalom dribble) regardless of sport playing status. Using questionnaire data Japanese were found to be twice as likely as U.S. student-athletes to indicate frustrations with sport and thoughts of quitting soccer. This may be a function of the monotony associated with playing soccer year-round on the same team. In conclusion, physical fitness in high school students is not detrimentally affected by focusing on a single sport rather than playing multiple sports but there may be negative psychological consequences associated with single sport participation. The enhanced fitness of Japanese students appears to be a function of cultural differences possibly related to exercise training habits or genetic advantage.