Features of general and special physical fitness in 15-16-year-old futsal and non-futsal boys with different abo blood groups

The article examines the characteristics of general and special physical fitness in boys aged 15-16 years according to ABO blood group and participation in futsal. The aim of the study was to identify differences in physical fitness between futsal and non-futsal boys with different ABO blood groups. A total of 183 boys participated in the study, including 91 futsal players and 92 boys who did not practice futsal. Physical fitness was assessed using speed, speed-strength, strength, and sport-specific motor tests. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used for statistical analysis. Futsal players demonstrated better results in most physical and technical tests compared with non-futsal boys. Among futsal players, boys with blood group A(II) generally showed more favorable results in speed tests and selected ball-handling tasks, while those with O(I) performed better in the 104 m and 300 m running tests. Boys with B(III) demonstrated more favorable results in speed-strength, strength, and selected technical tests. Statistically significant differences among ABO blood groups were reported for 55.6% of general physical fitness indicators and 75.0% of special physical and technical fitness indicators in futsal players, compared with 44.4% and 25.0%, respectively, in non-futsal boys. The findings indicate differences in physical fitness profiles according to ABO blood group and sports participation. Further research is needed to assess the role of ABO blood group as a typological criterion within a comprehensive approach to evaluating the sporting potential of young futsal players, alongside their physical, technical, and functional characteristics.