COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BODY COMPOSITION PARAMETERS IN TEAM SPORTS AND SPRINT TRAINED INDIAN ATHLETES

Introduction: Physiological and body composition variables have important role for assessment of training status and evaluation of health status of athletes. Regular monitoring of these variables during training may provide valuable information to coaches for training and selection of players' training protocol participating in both team sports and individual events. Purpose and objectives of the study: The aims of this study were to compare physiological and body composition variables between male athletes participating in team sports (football) and individual sprint event and also to correlate training duration (both in years and hours per week) of male athletes participating in both team sports as well as sprint with physiological and body composition variables. Applied Methodology: The study was carried out with thirty-year-old (n=30) and BMI matching male Indian athletes participating in team sports (football, n=16) and individual sprint event (n=14), having minimum 2 years of official training. They were in post competitive phase during the test. Several physiological and body composition variables were assessed such as height, weight, body mass index, training age (years), training time (hours/week), fat mass, fat-free mass, body cell mass, muscle mass, VO2 max, maximal power, training intensity and fatigue index following standard protocol. Achieved major results: The sprinters were found to possess significantly more fat-free mass (p < .01), body cell mass (p < .01), muscle mass (p < .01), less fat mass (p < .05) and more average anaerobic power (p < .01) than their peers - football players. However, no significant correlation was found between any of the measured physiological and body composition parameters and the training status of these players. Conclusion: This study would provide useful information for assigning training protocols to the athletes participating in team sports and individual sprint events on the basis of physiological and body composition parameters.