Anthropometric and Performance Parameters of Japanese High School American Football Players: A Case Study of Selection for International Matches
This study aimed to compare the anthropometric and performance parameters between American football players from different high school grades and to compare their physical characteristics to the normative values for U.S. and Japanese players fromprevious studies. The analysis included 240 grade 10 and 11 American football players. The testing included height, body mass, broad jump, 40-yard dash, and pro-agility shuttle.The analysis was stratified by position: linemen (offensive and defensive), big skill players (fullbacks, tight ends, and linebackers), and skill players (wide receivers, running backs, and defensive backs).The only between-grade difference was body mass for linemen (Cohen’s d > 0.6), with no moderate effects for all other measured variables (|d | ≦ 0.6). No Japanese players were better in both mass and performance measures than U.S. elite high school players. The strength and conditioning program for long-term athlete development should be established for American football players in Japan.
