A Comparative Study of Cardiovascular Fitness between Football Players and Non-Football Players”

Abstract: The present study was conducted to compare cardiovascular-related fitness between football players and non-football players of Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded. A total of 40 male subjects were selected and divided into two groups: football players (n = 20) and non-football players (n = 20). Speed was assessed using the 12-meter run test, while cardiovascular fitness was interpreted through performance outcomes associated with repeated high-intensity effort.

The results revealed that football players demonstrated superior performance in the 12-meter run, with a higher mean score (M = 2167.50, SD = 124.78) compared to non-football players (M = 1995.78, SD = 119.67). The obtained t-ratio (33.56) indicated a statistically significant difference between the two groups. These findings suggest that regular football training leads to better speed and enhanced cardiovascular efficiency due to continuous involvement in sprinting, acceleration, and recovery-based activities.

In conclusion, the study confirms that football players possess significantly better speed and cardiovascular fitness than non-football players. The observed differences highlight the positive impact of systematic football training on physical fitness and emphasize the importance of regular sports participation for improving cardiovascular health and performance among university students.

Keywords: Football players, Non-football players, Speed, 12-meter run, Cardiovascular fitness