Performance profiles of professional male beach soccer players: Evidence from the Serbian national team
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55040/8nkzrs86Keywords:
anthropometry;, physical fitness;, sand sports;, sports performanceAbstract
This study aimed to examine the performance profile of elite male beach soccer players, with particular emphasis on anthropometric characteristics, physical capacities, and neuromuscular function across playing positions. A total of eighteen professional players from the Serbian national team (28.7 ± 5.62 years; 182.7 ± 4.99 cm; 82.1 ± 7.57 kg) participated, including goalkeepers (n = 3), defenders (n = 5), midfielders (n = 5), and forwards (n = 5). All participants underwent a comprehensive battery of assessments, including body composition, sprint performance (5 m, 10 m, and flying 5 m), agility (zig-zag and 505 tests), lower-body power (countermovement and squat jumps), and flexibility (sit-and-reach). Large positional effects were observed for countermovement jump (ε² = 0.343), squat jump (ε² = 0.325), and flexibility (ε² = 0.325). Correlation analyses indicated significant relationships among body composition, sprint, agility, and neuromuscular outputs. Regression models indicated that higher body fat was associated with slower sprint times (β = 0.61–0.62, p < 0.01), whereas greater body muscle (β = –0.53 to –0.51, p < 0.05) and higher countermovement jump (β = –0.48, p = 0.046) were associated with faster sprint performance. These findings provide coaches with a practical, exploratory position-specific reference profile for anthropometric and physical profiling in elite beach soccer. Future research should incorporate sand-specific testing to enhance evaluation, training optimisation, and injury prevention
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