Journal of Advances in Para-Sport Science
A peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal dedicated to the advancement of sports sciences for individuals with diverse abilities

A Comparative Study of Physical Fitness Characteristics Between Male and Female Goalball Players

Authors

Fariba Mohammadi 1
Somayeh Mozafari 2

1 Department of Sport Medicine, Sport Sciences Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Sports injury and Corrective exercises, faculty of sport Science, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Visual impairment significantly impacts physical activity participation, often leading to reduced fitness levels among affected individuals. This study aims to compare the physical fitness characteristics of male and female goalball athletes aged 14-20 years, a critical developmental period for performance enhancement. A total of 100 athletes (50 male, 50 female) were assessed for strength, endurance, power, flexibility, and balance through various standardized tests. Results indicated significant differences in hand grip strength, medicine ball throw distance, vertical jump, and balance, with males outperforming females (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in push-up and sit-up performance, suggesting comparable endurance capabilities across genders. These findings underscore the necessity for gender-specific training regimens to address identified disparities, particularly in strength and power. The study contributes to a limited body of literature on the physical fitness of goalball players and highlights implications for inclusive training strategies that enhance athletic performance regardless of gender. Future research should explore the correlation between physical fitness attributes and on-court performance metrics to further inform coaching practices.
 

Keywords

talent identification
Blind
Visually Impaired
Anthropometry
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Journal of Advances in Para-Sport Science
Volume 4, Issue 2
October 2024
Pages 58-65