| Summary: | In spite of the number of participants in soccer, it would appear that there is no specific physical,
motor, anthropometric and sport psychological profile by which soccer players can be evaluated to
determine whether they comply with the specific requirements of soccer. Therefore, the purpose of
this study was to determine which physical, motor performance, anthropometric and sport
psychological variables distinguish soccer teams of different participation levels. Fifteen Uniwest
(classed as successful), twelve Vaal Triangle Technikon (classed as less successful) and sixteen
North-West Sports Academy players (classed as the developmental team) were subjected to a test
battery that consisted of 8 physical and motor tests as well as 14 anthropometric measurements.
Only two teams (Uniwest and Vaal Triangle Technikon) completed the CSAI-2, AMSSE, ACSI-28
and PVI sport psychological questionnaires.
The results of the stepwise forward discriminant analysis showed that isokinetic dorsi and
plantarflexion peak torque, together with right hamstring flexibility, agility, muscle mass
percentage, speed over 5m and abdominal muscle strength, were the physical, motor performance
and anthropometric test variables which significantly (p ≤0.05) and accurately (94.74%) distinguish
between soccer teams of different participation levels. The results of the sport psychological
variables revealed that goal directedness, concentration, optimal performance under pressure, goal
setting, performance motivation and activation control are the variables that have an 86.1 1% success
rate in discriminating between successful and less-successful soccer players.
In conclusion, although the potential of a physical, motor performance, anthropometric and sport
psychological test battery to discriminate accurately between soccer players of different
participation levels can not be discounted, it appears that the successful soccer team will not
necessarily achieve better test battery results than players of other participation levels. The
successful group only obtained significantly better results in 4 variables (speed over 5, 10 and 20m
as well as striving for success) when compared to the less successful group, who achieved
significantly better results in 16 variables. === Thesis (M.Sc. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.
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