Fitness test profiles as determined by the eurofit test battery in elite female gaelic football players

Keane, A; Scott, M; Dugdill, L; Reilly, T

Abstract

Gaelic Football is the main sport in Ireland and has potential for use as a means of fitness in health promotion
contexts. The present study entailed a cross-sectional comparison of performances in a motor test battery between elite female players and an age-matched reference group. The aim was to identify the fitness items that characterize top performers in the game. Altogether, 83 women aged 18–29 participated in the study and completed a series of tests consisting of 8 items in the Eurofit Test Battery. The profiles of the 2 groups were subjected to logistic regression analysis. Four of the test items contributed to group discrimination (endurance, flexibility, trunk strength, and limb speed). Based on percentage difference, the most prominent discriminator was the estimated _VO2max (mean 49.9 6 4.2 vs. 39.7 6 6.3 ml kg21 min21). Grip strength and agility were also significantly superior in the Gaelic Football players (p , 0.05), who had significantly lower body fat values (23.3 6 2.3%) than the reference group (27.2 6 3.6%). The use of the Eurofit Test battery in games players was confirmed as were the multifactorial requirements of fitness for women playing this sport. It was concluded that elite Gaelic Football at
top level is characterized mainly by high aerobic fitness, but a holistic training program is needed to cover the multiple fitness requirements of the game. Practical applications include the use of this game for health-related purposes.

Citation

Keane, A., Scott, M., Dugdill, L., & Reilly, T. (2010). Fitness test profiles as determined by the eurofit test battery in elite female gaelic football players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(6), 1502-1506. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181dc44a8

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: Apr 21, 2011
• Journal: The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
• Print ISSN: 1064-8011
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1502-1506
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181dc44a8
• Keywords: aerobic performance, balance, logistic regression,; endurance, strength tests
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181dc44a8