AUTHOR=Larsen Malte N. , Ermidis Georgios , Brito João , Ørner Cecilie , Martins Clarice , Lemos Luís Filipe , Krustrup Peter , Rago Vincenzo 

TITLE=Fitness and Performance Testing of Male and Female Beach Soccer Players—A Preliminary Investigation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.636308

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2021.636308

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Purpose:</bold> This study aimed to compare performance on sand and a firm surface and to describe the physical capacity of male and female beach soccer players.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Sixty-six male and 29 female competitive beach soccer players voluntarily participated in this study. Firstly, within-subjects test scores were compared to scores on a firm surface (criterion validity; <italic>n</italic> = 15 men) and reconducted on a second occasion (reliability; <italic>n</italic> = 51 men). Secondly, the best score on sand was retained to compare test performance between ages (classified as below 20, 20–30, and above 30 years) and sexes. Performance assessments included sprint time over 5 and 15 m (once on a firm surface and twice on sand), standing long jump (SLJ, once on a firm surface and twice on sand) and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1, once on a firm surface and once on sand; only data for men were available).</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Five-m sprint and Yo-Yo IR1 performance on sand were not correlated to performance on a firm surface (<italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05). Test-retest reliability was acceptable for the 15-m sprint and SLJ tests (ICC &gt; 0.90; CV &lt; 5%). Performance in 15-m sprint and maximal sprinting speed were moderately lower in male players aged above 30 years. compared to players aged below 30 years (<italic>d</italic> = 0.35–0.42; <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Irrespective of the age group, weight-bearing power-based performance mass was moderately to very largely higher in male players than in female players (<italic>d</italic> = 0.42–0.88; <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> The lack of a consistent relationship between performance on sand and on a firm surface might indicate the need to develop specific test batteries for sand-based athletes. Age-related differences in physical performance were evident only in sprint capacity. Further studies are warranted to elucidate our preliminary findings and to develop the sand specific tests.</p>