Abstract

REBELO, António N.  and  OLIVEIRA, José. Association between speed, agility and muscular power of pro soccer players. Rev. Port. Cien. Desp. [online]. 2006, vol.6, n.3, pp.342-348. ISSN 1645-0523.

Speed, agility and muscle power are important physical abilities for soccer player performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the above-mentioned abilities and to determine the power of association between them, using the results obtained by soccer players in field and laboratory tests.Twenty three professional soccer players participating in Portuguese First League were evaluated in the following tests: 15m sprint test (V15), 35m sprint test (V35), agility (AGI) and isokinetic strength test (Biodex - System 3, NY, USA) from which maximal power (MP) was estimated. The power of association between V15, V35 and AGI was moderate high to high (r= 0,60 to 0,86). MP of knee extensors and flexors muscles was found to correlate moderately with the performance in V15 and AGI, but only at higher angular velocities (6.28 rad.s^-1). The results of the present study suggest that MP has an important contribution to V15 and AGI performance. MP evaluation in isokinetic dynamometers must be determined at high angular velocities. Finally, although the tests couldn’t be used interchangeably, V15 and AGI seem to have many attributes in common.

Keywords : soccer; speed; agility; muscle power.

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