COMPARISON OF FLEXIBILITY, BALANCE, STANDING LONG JUMP, HAND GRIP AND BACK STRENGTH VALUES IN SOCCER PLAYERS AND WRESTLERS

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare flexibility, balance, standing long jump, handgrip and back strength
values in football players and wrestlers aged 11-17 years. A total of 236 participants, 139 male football
players and 97 male wrestlers, were included in the study. T-test, one-way analysis of variance and LSD
tests were used for statistical analysis. No statistically significant difference was found between
anthropometric measurements and fat percentages of football players and wrestlers (p>0.05). While
there was no significant difference in the balance values of football players and wrestlers (p>0.05),
statistically significant differences were found between flexibility, standing long jump, hand grip and
back strength values (p<0.05 and p<0.001). While no significant difference was found in balance values
in terms of age (p>0.05), statistically significant differences were found between flexibility, standing
long jump, hand grip and back strength values (p<0.001). Long jump and strength values increased with
increasing age in general. Flexibility value was positively correlated with hand grip strength, back
strength and standing long jump (p<0.001). Balance value was only positively correlated with fat
percentage (p<0.001). Hand grip strength was positively correlated with standing long jump and back
strength (p<0.001). It was concluded that standing long jump values of football players were better than
those of wrestlers, while flexibility, hand grip and back strength values of wrestlers were better than
those of football players. Balance values were found to be similar. Standing long jump, flexibility, hand
grip and back strength were found to increase with increasing age. Coaches and trainers should take
these differences into consideration in football players and wrestlers aged between 11 and 17 years.