The comparison of physical fitness parameters and competition achievements of turkey visually impaired goalball athletes

In this study, the main aim is to investigate the relationships between physical fitness parameters and anthropometric measurements of blind male athletes and competition successes. 59 male athletes with different visual acuity (B1, B2, B3) participating in the Turkey Vision Impaired Primary Schools Goalball Championship participated in this study. The average of those subjects was, age 14,95±1,28 year, body weight 52,06±8,89 kg, height 163,58±10,39 cm, sport age 02,39±1,50 year Participants' physical fitness parameters; body fat percentage (Holtain brand skin fold instrument), hand grip (Takei brand dynamometer) and spine motility (inclinometer instrument) measurements were taken. Upper extremity lengths (arm, forearm, hand) and lower extremity lengths (leg and foot) were taken from anthropometric measurements. In addition, the researcher also calculated the Athlete's Accurate Shooting Performance. In the study, all statistical analyzes performed were made through the SPSS 15.0 package program. The Shapiro-Wilk test was applied to determine the normal distribution for continuous variables. As a result of the analysis, p = 106, our data show normal distribution. For this reason, One Way Anova was used in triplicate comparisons and Independent Sample t-test was used in binary comparisons. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis was used to look at the relationship of all parameters to accurate shot performance. As a result of the analyzes made, it was determined that there was a significant difference between partially sighted and totally blinds' accurate shot performances according the first eight team athletes' visual acuity groups (p=,025). Also when the anthropometric and physical fitness values of the first eight team athletes and the accurate shot performances are statistically examined, It was found that there was a positive relationship between right hand grip force and correct shot performance (pearson r=,374, p=,029). However, no significant difference was found between the other parameters. Consequently; visual acuity and upper extremity muscle strength seems to be of great importance in goalball sport. More frequent work on muscle strength may be advisable in order to shoot particularly well during training. Key Words: Goalball, Visually impaired, Anthropometric measurements, Physical fitness.