Interlimb Asymmetry and Performance Variables in Female Football Players: Effects on Dynamic Balance, Jump Performance, and Positional Differences

This study aims to investigate the effects of interlimb asymmetry on dynamic balance, vertical and horizontal jump performance in female footballers. The study examined the relationships between the athletes' demographic characteristics such as nationality, position and licensed sports history and their performance values. The sample group in the study consists of Atasehir women's football players (age 23.36±2.57, BMI 20.99±1.57, licensed sports years 6.68±2.06). The performance measurements of the athletes in the study were measured with Togu Challenge Disc and Jump Mat Pro. It was determined that the measurement data among the athletes were not normally distributed. The relationship differences between the obtained data were determined with the Mann Whitney U test in the SPSS 24.0 program.While there was a significant difference in the balance difference (%) (t20=2.759; p=0.047) and horizontal jump difference (%) (t20=2.609; p=0.040) values in the test results of the athletes, it was determined that the defensive players were significantly higher than the attackers in both balance and horizontal jump differences. No difference was observed in the performance values in terms of the licensed sports backgrounds of the athletes (p>0.05).The results of the study showed that the balance levels of foreign football players were significantly higher than those of domestic footballers, while the balance and horizontal jump differences of defensive players were significantly higher than those of offensive players in terms of positions. Positive relationships were found between age, BMI and sports history and performance values. According to these results, it is recommended that individual training plans be made by considering the balance and horizontal jump parameters in the training planning processes of athletes. In this way, athletes can increase individual performance in the game. In addition, these data obtained can be an effective criterion in the selection of players by athletes according to positions