Physical performance characteristics and activity limitations of touch football players with disabilities: Preliminary study for classification framework developmentKey Points
Background: All Abilities Touch Football provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in organised sport. However, the sport's rapid growth, coupled with the absence of a scientifically validated framework, has presented challenges in accommodating players with varying...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | JSAMS Plus |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696725000122 |
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| author | Taylor M. Wileman Daniel A. Hackett Marnee J. McKay Ché Fornusek |
| author_facet | Taylor M. Wileman Daniel A. Hackett Marnee J. McKay Ché Fornusek |
| author_sort | Taylor M. Wileman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: All Abilities Touch Football provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in organised sport. However, the sport's rapid growth, coupled with the absence of a scientifically validated framework, has presented challenges in accommodating players with varying abilities while maintaining competitive balance. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of All Abilities Touch Football players through various physical fitness tests and assess player activity limitations based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework. Methods: Twenty-four players participated in a battery of physical assessments, including measures of flexibility, balance, coordination, strength, power, speed, change of direction speed, and endurance. Intra-subject reliability was assessed using the coefficient of variation, and physical performance measures were standardised using z-scores. Results: The results demonstrated considerable variation in performance, even among players with the same diagnosis. Tasks with increased motor demands such as the vertical jump and modified agility test, often required multiple attempts or assistance to complete (CV: 1.7–8.6 %). Conclusion: These findings provide the first analysis of the physical performance characteristics of All Abilities Touch Football players, highlighting the broad range of abilities across the player cohort. The findings highlight the need for tailored strategies to enhance participation, while providing considerations for developing a classification framework that could support the growth and development of this sport. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0ef930d2357f4e5ca7dc73f89e712018 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2772-6967 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JSAMS Plus |
| spelling | doaj-art-0ef930d2357f4e5ca7dc73f89e7120182025-08-20T03:20:56ZengElsevierJSAMS Plus2772-69672025-06-01510009810.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100098Physical performance characteristics and activity limitations of touch football players with disabilities: Preliminary study for classification framework developmentKey PointsTaylor M. Wileman0Daniel A. Hackett1Marnee J. McKay2Ché Fornusek3Corresponding author.; School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaBackground: All Abilities Touch Football provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in organised sport. However, the sport's rapid growth, coupled with the absence of a scientifically validated framework, has presented challenges in accommodating players with varying abilities while maintaining competitive balance. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of All Abilities Touch Football players through various physical fitness tests and assess player activity limitations based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework. Methods: Twenty-four players participated in a battery of physical assessments, including measures of flexibility, balance, coordination, strength, power, speed, change of direction speed, and endurance. Intra-subject reliability was assessed using the coefficient of variation, and physical performance measures were standardised using z-scores. Results: The results demonstrated considerable variation in performance, even among players with the same diagnosis. Tasks with increased motor demands such as the vertical jump and modified agility test, often required multiple attempts or assistance to complete (CV: 1.7–8.6 %). Conclusion: These findings provide the first analysis of the physical performance characteristics of All Abilities Touch Football players, highlighting the broad range of abilities across the player cohort. The findings highlight the need for tailored strategies to enhance participation, while providing considerations for developing a classification framework that could support the growth and development of this sport.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696725000122Sports for persons with disabilitiesTeam sportsPhysical fitnessAutismIntellectual impairmentPhysical impairment |
| spellingShingle | Taylor M. Wileman Daniel A. Hackett Marnee J. McKay Ché Fornusek Physical performance characteristics and activity limitations of touch football players with disabilities: Preliminary study for classification framework developmentKey Points JSAMS Plus Sports for persons with disabilities Team sports Physical fitness Autism Intellectual impairment Physical impairment |
| title | Physical performance characteristics and activity limitations of touch football players with disabilities: Preliminary study for classification framework developmentKey Points |
| title_full | Physical performance characteristics and activity limitations of touch football players with disabilities: Preliminary study for classification framework developmentKey Points |
| title_fullStr | Physical performance characteristics and activity limitations of touch football players with disabilities: Preliminary study for classification framework developmentKey Points |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical performance characteristics and activity limitations of touch football players with disabilities: Preliminary study for classification framework developmentKey Points |
| title_short | Physical performance characteristics and activity limitations of touch football players with disabilities: Preliminary study for classification framework developmentKey Points |
| title_sort | physical performance characteristics and activity limitations of touch football players with disabilities preliminary study for classification framework developmentkey points |
| topic | Sports for persons with disabilities Team sports Physical fitness Autism Intellectual impairment Physical impairment |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696725000122 |
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