Anthropometric Status and Dietary Intake of Soccer Players in Makhado Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa: a two-phase study protocol. (Preprint)

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Background: Soccer is a strength and power contact, high-intensity, intermittent sport, played twice per week, including weekly training for the PSL soccer athletes and requiring adequate nutritional intake, specific anthropometric and physiological characteristics to promote optimal performance; however, dietary intake and anthropometric status of soccer players have not attracted much research attention. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the anthropometric status and dietary intake of professional soccer athletes participating in the Premier Soccer League: Limpopo province. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> Methods: A cross-sectional study among soccer players of the second division league in the Makhado Local Football Association within the Makhado Municipality, located in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, will be conducted. A simple random sampling technique will be used to select the teams. The Slovin’s formula and the power calculations will be used to determine the sample size. The anthropometric parameters of skinfolds, circumferences, and breadths will be measured following the principles set by the International Society of Anthropometry and Kinanthropometry (ISAK). The Body Mass Index (BMI), percentage body fat, and somatotype will be derived from the measurements. The dietary intake will be assessed using the 24-hour recall and will be validated using the Food frequency questionnaire. Data will be analyzed using the latest version of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 26). Descriptive parameters of means and standard deviation will be used to describe the anthropometric status and dietary intake of the soccer athletes. Pearson’s or Spearman's correlation will be used to determine the association between anthropometric status and dietary intake. Categorical data will be expressed as frequencies. A p-value of less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> Results: The study may provide valuable baseline information for future research regarding the anthropometric status and the dietary intake of soccer players in Makhado Municipality, Limpopo Province. Findings may contribute to the development of the region-specific nutritional guidelines incorporating cultural practices and socioeconomic status. The Makhado Local Football Association currently has 14 registered teams, each with approximately 29 players, resulting in an estimated total of 406 potential participants for the study. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Conclusions: This protocol details the research design and methodology aimed at addressing the significant gap in understanding the anthropometric status and dietary intake of soccer players in remote areas like Makhado Municipality. </sec>