Comparison of Selected Physical Fitness Parameters Between Prepubertal Soccer and Basketball Players: The Case of Summer Sports Schools

Ergenlik Öncesi Futbolcu ve Basketbolcuların Seçilmiş Fiziksel Uygunluk Parametrelerinin Karşılaştırılması: Yaz Spor Okulları Örneği

Serkan AYDIN*, Sercan ÖNCEN , Erhan KARA

¹Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Faculty of Sport Sciences, saydin@nku.edu.tr Orcid:0000-0003-3618-8028

²Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Faculty of Sport Sciences, soncen@nku.edu.tr Orcid:0000-0001-6147-2966

³Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Faculty of Sport Sciences, ekara@nku.edu.tr Orcid:0000-0003-0727-5755

Doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21264700

https://www.ijoss.org/Archive/v3-i2/ijoss-Volume3-issue2-34.pdf

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Received / Gönderim: 05.03.2026 Accepted / Kabul: 17.06.2026 Published / Yayın: 23.06.2026

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare selected physical fitness parameters between prepubertal soccer and basketball players attending structured summer sports school programs. A total of 85 prepubertal children participating in organized summer sports schools were included in the study, consisting of 57 soccer players and 28 basketball players. All participants were enrolled in short-term, structured summer sports school programs focused on sport-specific basic training. Physical fitness was assessed using vertical jump, flexibility, flamingo balance test, handgrip strength, back–leg strength, and 20-m sprint performance. The normality of the data was examined using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests, and all variables showed normal distribution (p>0.05). Therefore, Independent Samples t-tests were used to compare physical fitness parameters between soccer and basketball players. No significant differences were observed between soccer and basketball players in vertical jump performance, flexibility, back–leg strength, or 20-m sprint time (p>0.05). However, basketball players demonstrated significantly better performance in balance as assessed by the flamingo balance test (p<0.01) and higher handgrip strength compared to soccer players (p<0.05). The findings indicate that most physical fitness parameters are similar between prepubertal soccer and basketball players attending summer sports schools, whereas balance and handgrip strength favour basketball players, possibly reflecting early sport-specific demands.

Keywords Basketball, Physical Fitness, Prepubertal, Soccer.

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, yapılandırılmış yaz spor okulu programlarına katılan ergenlik öncesi futbolcu ve basketbolcuların seçilmiş fiziksel uygunluk parametrelerini karşılaştırmaktır. Çalışmaya, düzenli yaz spor okulu programlarına katılan toplam 85 ergenlik öncesi çocuk dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcıların 57’si futbolcu, 28’i basketbolcudur. Tüm katılımcılar, branşa özgü temel antrenmanları içeren kısa süreli ve yapılandırılmış yaz spor okulu programlarına katılmıştır. Fiziksel uygunluk; dikey sıçrama, esneklik, flamingo denge testi, el pençe kuvveti, sırt–bacak kuvveti ve 20 m sprint performansı kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Verilerin normal dağılıma uygunluğu Kolmogorov–Smirnov ve Shapiro–Wilk testleri ile incelenmiş ve tüm değişkenlerin normal dağılım gösterdiği belirlenmiştir (p>0,05). Bu nedenle gruplar arası karşılaştırmalarda bağımsız örneklemler t-testi kullanılmıştır. Futbolcu ve basketbolcular arasında dikey sıçrama performansı, esneklik, sırt–bacak kuvveti ve 20 m sprint süresi açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır (p>0,05). Buna karşın, flamingo denge testi ile değerlendirilen denge performansının basketbolcular lehine anlamlı düzeyde daha iyi olduğu (p<0,01) ve el pençe kuvvetinin basketbolcularda futbolculara kıyasla daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir (p<0,05). Elde edilen bulgular, yaz spor okullarına katılan ergenlik öncesi futbolcu ve basketbolcuların fiziksel uygunluk parametrelerinin büyük ölçüde benzer olduğunu; ancak denge ve el pençe kuvveti açısından basketbolcular lehine farklılıklar bulunduğunu göstermektedir. Bu farklılıkların, kısa süreli eğitim programlarında dahi ortaya çıkabilen erken dönem branşa özgü taleplerden kaynaklanabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Basketbol, Ergenlik Öncesi, Fiziksel Uygunluk, Futbol.

How to Cite This Article

APA 7

Aydın, S., Öncen, S., & Kara, E. (2026). Comparison of Selected Physical Fitness Parameters Between Prepubertal Soccer and Basketball Players: The Case of Summer Sports Schools. International Journal of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (IJOSS), 3(2), 907–919. https://www.ijoss.org/Archive/v3-i2/ijoss-Volume3-issue2-34.pdf

Vancouver Aydın S., Öncen S., Kara E.. Comparison of Selected Physical Fitness Parameters Between Prepubertal Soccer and Basketball Players: The Case of Summer Sports Schools. Int J Health Exerc Sport Sci (IJOSS). 2026;3(2):907-919. Available from: https://www.ijoss.org/Archive/v3-i2/ijoss-Volume3-issue2-34.pdf

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