Correlational Study of VO₂max and Basic Football Techniques in First-Year Sports Science Students

Abstract

Football is one of the most popular sports worldwide, demanding both technical proficiency and optimal physical fitness. VO₂max, a key indicator of aerobic capacity, plays a crucial role in supporting physical performance and may influence the ability to master football skills, especially among early-year students in sports education settings. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between VO₂max and fundamental football skills among early-year students in the Sports Science Program. A cross-sectional research design was employed involving 155 second-semester students enrolled in the Sports Science Program. Participants were selected using total sampling. VO₂max was assessed using the Multistage Fitness Test (bleep test). Technical football skills measured included passing, receiving, dribbling, shooting, and heading. Data were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation to determine the relationship between VO₂max and each football skill. The analysis revealed significant correlations between VO₂max and several football skills: passing (ρ = 0.300; p < 0.01), receiving (ρ = 0.531; p < 0.01), dribbling (ρ = -0.645; p < 0.01), and heading (ρ = 0.482; p < 0.01). No significant correlation was found between VO₂max and shooting (ρ = 0.146; p = 0.070). The data suggest that higher VO₂max is associated with better performance in most basic football techniques, except for shooting. VO₂max significantly contributes to the mastery of fundamental football skills—particularly passing, receiving, dribbling, and heading—among early-year sports science students. Aerobic capacity should be considered a critical component in football training and education programs.