Positional relationship between several performance tests and physical profile of Brazilian football athletes

American football is a team sport that requires high levels of physical attributes such as strength, power, speed, and agility (Yeargin et al., 2017). This sport is characterized by positions which require sets of very different skills for great sport performance (Yamashita, Asakura, Ito, Yamada, & Yamada, 2016). The National Football League (NFL) is a professional league in the United States and the highest level of athletic competition for American football in the world.

In an American football game, each position has distinct performance demands. Furthermore, previous studies have reported that height, body weight, and body composition are different among American football players (Dupler, Amonette, Coleman, Hoffman, & Wenzel, 2010; Iguchi et al., 2016), and the different speed and movement demands required may be explained by the specific characteristics of each playing position (Robbins & Young, 2012; Raymundo et al., 2018). High-level teams present at least 20 distinct positions.

For instance, wide receivers and defensive backs, who often weigh < 90 kg, are usually required to run distances in excess of 30 or 40 m. Linemen commonly weighing over 140 kg are rarely required to run > 10 m (Robbins & Young, 2012; Iguchi et al., 2016). Players in skill position achieve greater distances, high-intensity sprint, and acceleration and deceleration efforts than those in other positions (Nuzzo, 2015). With the different performance requirements in a game, physical profile differs between position categories and level of experience (Iguchi et al., 2016; Yamashita et al., 2016). Studies examining the relationship between physical strength and performance have suggested that superior physical strength, speed, and power are important to a higher team ranking or to becoming a starter (Dupler et al., 2010; Lockie et al., 2017). On the other hand, other studies have been reported that stronger and faster athletes are more likely to be injured because of higher speed and collision forces (Iguchi et al., 2016; Yeargin et al., 2017).

Robbins and Young (2012) investigated positional relationships between sprint and jump abilities and body mass in elite American college football players. The authors found that stationary start sprints up to 36.6 m seems to be heavily influenced by acceleration, possibly integrating similar characteristics. However, body mass was strongly associated with performance in the lineman group. These factors create a complex challenge for countries such as Brazil, where American football is emerging as a team sport. Nevertheless, American football is not a professional sport in Brazil yet, and there is no formal process of recruitment or selection of players. In this sense, with the growing interest in American football in Brazil, it is essential to develop studies with the goal to understand the current state of the Brazilian league, and the level of physical fitness performance of Brazilian players. These data are necessary to bring up the sport to a higher level and possibly become a professional sport in Brazil.

In the present study, we performed a battery of tests routinely performed in American football and used the data as variables for statistical analysis of the relationship between physical fitness parameters and playing position in Brazilian athletes of American football team. These data on football players in a country where the sports is growing may help football coaches, and strength and condition specialists to properly design year-round position and player-specific training programs with low cost and clear applicability. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association among anthropometric and physical performance (horizontal jump, agility, muscle endurance and anaerobic performance) parameters in Brazilian American football athletes and to determine if the relationship between various anaerobic indices (power output, mean power, peak power per weight, mean power per weight, and the fatigue index) are dependent upon position.

No difference was noticed between groups for anthropometric variables and training experience data (p > 0.05; Table 1). The ICC of the physical tests’ performance range between 0.87 to 0.97.

Higher abdominal curl performance was observed under skill player versus big skill player group (F = 3.604; p = 0.045; Table 2) regarding neuromuscular tests. On the other hand, no difference between groups was observed for the horizontal jump, push up, and T agility test (p > 0.05). No difference was noticed among groups in all anaerobic tests and indices computed (p > 0.05; Table 3). In addition, considering the sprint performance (Table 4) no difference was notable between groups (p > 0.05).

Positional correlations are presented in Table 5-7. On the 50 positional performance measure correlations carried out, only 12 were not statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05 for big skill players group (Table 5). The relationship between T agility test score and RAST indices (i.e., total time, mean speed, mean power, mean power per weight, and anaerobic capacity) range between very large and nearly perfect. The significant correlations between horizontal jump and peak speed, peak power per weight, mean power per weight range between very large and nearly perfect. The relationship between 10, 20 and 30 m sprint speed and power reduction index were great. A very large correlation was also observed between 10 m sprint speed and fatigue index.

The relationships between T agility test, horizontal jump, and sprint speed tests score and RAST indices range in general between trivial and moderate (Table 6). A significant very large correlation was only noted between 30 m sprint speed and peak power output.

For lineman players, the relationship between T agility test, horizontal jump, and sprint speed tests score and RAST indices range in general between moderate and very large (Table 7). A significant negative correlation was observed on T agility test and peak speed, mean speed, mean power, mean power per weight and anaerobic capacity, respectively. A large correlation was also noticed between 10 m sprint speed and peak power output (Figure 2).

Table 1.
Baseline anthropometric characteristics mean ± SD.

BMI: Body mass index.

Table 2.
Neuromuscular performance tests (Mean ± SD).

† Significant difference for big skill player group (p ≤ 0.05).

Table 3
Anaerobic test performance (Mean ± SD).

RAST: running anaerobic sprint test.

Table 4.
Sprint test performance (10, 20 and 30 m) (Mean ± SD).

† Significant difference for defense group (p ≤ 0.05).

Table 5.
Big skill players’ correlations between the RAST test variables and performances scores of neuromuscular tests.

Table 6.
Skill players’ correlations between the RAST test variables and performances scores of neuromuscular tests.

**p ≤ 0.01; *p ≤ 0.05.

Table 7.
Lineman players’ correlations between the RAST test variables and performances scores of neuromuscular tests.

*p ≤ 0.05; **p ≤ 0.01; † Significant difference for defense group (p ≤ 0.05).

Figure 2.
Results of the power generated in each sprint (35 m) of RAST obtained between groups. Results are reported as mean and SD.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association among anthropometric and physical performance parameters in Brazilian American football athletes and to determine if the relationship between various anaerobic indices of RAST and physical performance skills are dependent upon position. No difference was found between groups for anthropometric, horizontal jump, push up, T agility, 10, 20, and 30 m sprint speed tests and all anaerobic indices computed. However, higher abdominal curl performance was observed under skill player versus big skill player group. The skills abilities as t-test agility score, horizontal jump and 10, 20 and 30 m sprint speed showed different relationship between groups when associated with the anaerobic indices computed during RAST test.

Despite the lack of significant differences, the anthropometric variables (177.7 ± 6.5 cm; 91.8 ± 19.1 kg; BMI: 25.8 ± 5.1) measured in the Brazilian athletes evaluated in the current study were significantly lower than values presented in previous studies with NFL athletes. Pryor et al. (2014), in a study with super bowl champions, observed greater anthropometric values (weight: 144.9 ± 20.8 kg; height: 183.8 ± 9.0 cm) when compared to those found in the present study. Dengel et al. (2014) evaluated the body composition and bone mineral density in 411 NFL professional athletes and observed that offensive lineman presented similar BMI (37.9 ± 2.1 kg m^-2), body weight (140.9 ± 6.1 kg) and height (192 ± 4.1 cm) of defensive lineman (BMI: 36.5 ± 4.5 kg m-2; weight: 132.9 ± 14.7 kg; height: 190.9 ± 2.9 cm). In the present study, the corresponding Lineman category showed lower values of BMI (28.2 ± 6.5 kg m-2), body weight (100.9 ± 23.9 kg) and height (178 ± 7.7 cm) when compared to NFL athletes assessed by Dengel et al. (2014).

The physical fitness performance scores (i.e., horizontal jump: 210.9 ± 26.2 cm; push up: 34.4 ± 12.7; abdominal curl: 39.9 ± 10.1; T-test 12.4 ± 0.8 s) measured in Brazilian athletes were also lower than previous values observed in professional American football players from other countries. Vitate et al. (2016) investigated several physical performance skills in Italian American football players and found the significant difference in horizontal jump score between playing positioning (i.e., lineman: 207 ± 23.8 cm; skill players: 242.2 ± 14.2 cm and big skill players 225 ± 20 cm). These results were higher to those obtained in the present study even considering each positioning group: (Lineman: 202.4 ± 32.5 cm; skill player: 220.5 ± 18.3 cm; big skill player 209.3 ± 25.6 cm). On the other hand, considering the physical fitness tests evaluated, it was found significant differences only in abdominal curl test between skill player (45.7 ± 7.7) versus big skill player (33.0 ± 9.0), respectively. Recently, Yamashita et al. (2016) compared the physical performance score of Japanese versus American football players and noted that Americans presented greater results in all variable tests applied in NFL combine (i.e., height, weight, vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash, proagility shuttle, three-cone drill, and 100 kg bench press repetition test).

Additionally, the results obtained in the current study were predictable considering that the development of American Football in Brazil has a long way to go when compared to the level of training and structure offered at universities in the United States, which allowed the athletes to achieve a greater physical and technical performance level before entering in the NFL organization. One of the factors that may explain this difference is related to the training routine of Brazilian athletes which is not as hard as the training American players have while competing at a collegiate level. Brazilian players usually practice on the field only a few days per week.

Another factor that may explain our findings is the recruitment process. In Brazil, there is no formal recruitment of players for the coaches and managers to be able to build a stronger team. The reality in Brazil and most of the South American countries is that anyone interested in the sport which presented the minimal performance attributes required on the field will be integrated into a team. Additionally, in Brazil, soccer, volleyball and basketball are the most popular team sports, so the stronger and skilled athletes often prefer to join those kinds of sports. In this sense, Dupler et al. (2010) examined the physical and performance differences between grade levels and playing positions within two thousand three hundred and twenty-seven High-School football players. They were tested for height, weight, 40-yd sprint time, proagility time, and vertical jump height. They noted a similar maturation and performance enhancement process across grades, regardless of offensive and defensive position. These results indicate that implementation of the sports since the high-school period is essential to achieve a greater anthropometric and physical performance scores in professional competitive level.

However, positional correlations between ability tests and RAST indices presented distinct results between groups. Big skill players presented great to a nearly perfect correlation between T agility test and horizontal jump scores with several power indices computed during RAST. The 10, 20 and 30 m sprint speed showed large correlation with power reduction index. On the other hand, in skill players group, a significant very large correlation was only seen between 30 m sprint speed and peak power output. Additionally, in lineman players group, a significant negative correlation was noticed on T agility test and peak speed, mean speed, mean power, mean power per weight and anaerobic capacity, respectively. This is due to the relative increased upper body demands of lineman during position-specific drills and gameplay. Much of the power and strength for these players come from the lower body (Nuzzo, 2015); however, the transfer of this strength and power occurs through the upper extremities and is typically imparted to the opponent through the arms.

Sierer, Battaglini, Mihalik, Shields, and Tomasini (2008) suggested that players in the skill group should prepare themselves as much as possible to perform considerably greater during the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, pro-agility shuttle, and 3-cone drill assessments. Since BSP (Linebackers, Fullbacks, and Tight ends) require speed in order to dutifully perform their respective positions. Yamashita et al. (2016) compared the physical characteristics and performance between top-level non-professional football players in Japan (i.e., one hundred sixty-eight), and NFL combine invited players and a top and middle-level player in Japan with the goal to determine the factors that enhance performance in international and national competition. Compared with non-selected players, selected Japanese skill players had better performance in the 40-yard dash and bench press test and big skill players had better performance in the vertical jump, broad jump, and 40-yard dash. Selected and non-selected Japanese linemen were not different in any measurements. Similar to our results, the Japanese players were smaller, lighter, slower, and weaker than the NFL candidates,

Studies examining the relationship between physical strength and performance have suggested that superior physical strength, speed, and power are important to a higher team ranking or to becoming a starter (Robbins, Young, Behm, Payne, & Klimstra, 2010; Nuzzo, 2015; Pion et al., 2015; Paz et al., 2016a). Others studies (Gabbett, Kelly, & Pezet, 2008; Hegedus, McDonough, Bleakley, Baxter, & Cook, 2015; McLaren, Weston, Smith, Cramb, & Portas, 2015) have been reported that stronger and faster athletes are more likely to be injured due to higher speed and collision forces. Players with higher power presented a significantly greater risk for knee sprains. The ones with low power had a significantly higher incidence of an ankle sprain, and vertical jump height was a significant predictor of hamstring strain (Iguchi et al., 2016). Gabbett, Ullah, and Finch (2012) observed that players with greater speed performance suffered more injuries than those with lower speed. In addition, the results of the current study showed that 10, 20 and 30 m sprint speed was positively correlated with power relative to body weight. On the other hand, the RAST indices scores, sprint speed and t-agility performance observed in the current study were lower when compared to Japanese, Italian, and American Football players.

Young, James, and Montgomery (2002) proposed a deterministic model of agility, and they indicated that change of direction speed was composed of technique, straight sprinting speed, and leg muscle qualities. The lack of training of such specific skills in high school and college may be one the factors that may justify the scores presented by Brazilian athletes when compared to players from countries with large experience in American football. When cornering around a cone, the ability to produce lateral force while braking forward force with several steps rather than producing great lateral force in one step is required (Raya et al., 2013). On the other hand, the lack of difference between skill groups in agility and RAST scores may be associated to the similar anthropometric characteristics of the players evaluated in the present study (Zagatto et al., 2009).

Generally, shorter players have a lower center of gravity and higher step frequency, which may be an advantage when adjusting their stride length with smaller foot displacement and increasing step frequency to complete cornering around a cone (Williams et al., 2015; Paz et al., 2016b). Zhang, Bates, and Dufek (2000) indicated that ankle, knee, and hip joints have a different role in energy dissipation during landing tasks: the ankle joint muscles had the least ability to absorb energy and its energy generated during landing was transferred from ankle to knee to hip. In this sense, the author suggested that players with less power are less able to dissipate the energy around the ankle joint during athletic movements such as cutting and landing, which may increase the risk of ankle sprain.

The results of the present study should, therefore, be interpreted with caution for a better understanding of the relationship between physical performance parameters and positional differences. We investigated a Brazilian American Football team with physical performance levels smaller than NFL athletes in several skills such as speed, power, agility and anaerobic capacity. In Brazil, the American football does not have a large number of teams, and even with the increasing growth of interest in Brazil in these last years, American football is still not a big business. The consequences of little support from big companies are reflected into the absent of state-of-the-art facilities, scientific evidence, materials, and qualify personnel that could help further develop the Brazilian league. However, a future study including more performance tests, more detailed categories for playing positions, and athletes from countries where the American Football is growing may help coaches and conditional professionals to develop this sport with low financial support. Therefore, the results of this study involving players currently participating in the top level Brazilian American football leagues serve as a starting point, that, if any progress is to be made to popularize the sports in Brazil, more investments in the sport need to be made.

In conclusion, no difference was noticed between groups (lineman, skill players, and big skill players) for anthropometric, horizontal jump, push up, T agility, 10, 20, and 30 m sprint speed tests and all anaerobic indices computed in Brazilian American football athletes. However, higher abdominal curl performance was noted under skill player versus big skill player group. The skills abilities as T agility score, horizontal jump and 10, 20 and 30 m sprint speed showed different relationships between intra-group when associated with the anaerobic indices computed during RAST. Therefore, these results of the current study indicated that only agility and sprint tests presented an association with the anaerobic performance for all analyzed groups. These results may help coaches to develop conditioning programs and to design new models to recruit American football players in Brazil and countries where this sport is growing, but there is still a lack of financial and structure support.