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

Ardi Nusri — 2026-06-04

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.

Mental Toughness dan Psychological Well-being pada Atlet Penyandang Disabilitas: Tinjauan Literatur Sistematis

Afif Bayu Eko Prasetyo — 2026-06-10

Background: Mental toughness has been identified as a crucial psychological construct influencing athletic performance and well-being. However, limited systematic evidence exists regarding its role in athletes with disabilities, who face unique psychological challenges in competitive sport environments. Objectives: This systematic literature review aims to synthesize current knowledge on mental toughness and its relationship with psychological well-being among athletes with disabilities, examine protective and risk factors, and identify evidence-based interventions for this population. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using Scopus database following PRISMA guidelines. Search terms included "psychology," "mental toughness," "sport," "disability," and related terms. Studies published between 2020-2024 in English, open-access journal articles were included. Quality assessment was performed using appropriate methodological appraisal tools. Results: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 1,847 participants across various disability types and sports. Findings revealed significant positive associations between mental toughness, resilience, and psychological well-being in para-athletes. Key themes included gender differences in psychological self-regulation, protective factors against mental ill-health, the mediating role of social support, and sport-specific adaptations in mental toughness development. Conclusion: Mental toughness serves as a crucial protective psychological resource for athletes with disabilities, significantly contributing to enhanced well-being outcomes. However, disability-specific frameworks and targeted interventions require further development to optimize psychological support in para-sport contexts.

Keywords: mental toughness; psychological well-being; athletes with disabilities; para-sport, resilience; systematic review; disability sport psychology

Journal Sport Science

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

Mental Toughness dan Psychological Well-being pada Atlet Penyandang Disabilitas: Tinjauan Literatur Sistematis