ATIVIDADE FÍSICA NO CALOR: ANÁLISE DA VARIAÇÃO DO PERCENTUAL DE GORDURA EM ATLETAS DE FUTEBOL DURANTE UM CAMPEONATO

Abstract

Soccer is a sport characterized by the alternation of short duration and intense motor actions, indicating the importance of physical preparation for the game's performance. The physical training is associated with the control of the variation of fat percentage, which can affect the athlete's performance. Several studies demonstrate the incompatibility between the competitive excellence and high levels of subcutaneous fat. Another important point is the practice of soccer in hot and humid environments, because is needed a systematic care with the liquids intake, which should be observed like a strategy to minimize heat-related problems. The general objective of this study were to determine the variations of the fat percentage of soccer players in a certain team during a championship. Also the specific objectives are: a) compare the fat percentage found in the different positions of the players; b) verify if there are other studies about this subject and compare the fat percentage; c) examine whether and climatic conditions such as heat and high humidity can affect the range of the results during the tournament; compared to other data collections and other published studies related of fat percentage in different conditions of heat and humidity. Four data collection were made to evaluate the fat percentage by Jackson and Pollock 7 skinfold protocol. It was analyzed Twenty-five professional soccer players from Marabá s Eagle Team (Brazil), who competed in the 2011 C Series Brazilian Soccer Championship. In the average, participant athletes were 27.53 ± 4.96 years old, 1.76 ± 0.07 of height and initial weight of 73.81 ± 8.35. Analyzing the data collection for months, there was no significant statistical difference in body mass and body fat percentage between assessments. A significant difference was detected only in body mass and body fat percentage among goalies and wide midfielders during all researched months. In September there was also a difference in body mass between defenders and wide midfielders. Thus, this study observed that the weather conditions had no significant influence in the variation in the fat percentage in this studied group of soccer athletes.