EDGE OF BALANCE: A COMPARATIVE INVESTIGATION INTO DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM AMONG INLINE SKATERS AND FOOTBALLERS

Balance is crucial for success in sports. Developing this ability early is key to mastering skills and maximising performance. This study investigates the balance specificity to analyse the importance of promoting children to games involving changes in the centre of gravity in early childhood. Fifty participants, Inline skaters (n=25) and footballers (n=25), are selected randomly, and their lower limb length is measured from the anterior superior iliac spine to the most distal part of the medial malleolus using tape. Further dynamic balance test (YBT) is performed 3 times with dominant and non-dominant feet in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterior lateral areas, which are measured from the central starting point and readings are measured. YBT test score is then calculated using the standard equations, and composite reach distance (%) is obtained. The findings show a significant change in dynamic balance among inline skaters and footballers. A poor result in the YBT test is due to the lack of dynamic balance. Inline skaters have more dynamic balance than footballers at an early age. Thus, this test should be further investigated on games involving variations in their centre of mass with other games. KEYWORDS: YBT, Centre of Gravity, Performance, Football, Skating