Aerobic Fitness Profile of University Soccer Players: A Descriptive Study in Airlangga University

Abstract

Background: Soccer/football is a sport that requires a high level of physical fitness, one of which is aerobic fitness. Aerobic fitness plays an important role in maintaining match intensity, accelerating recovery, and sustaining players’ performance throughout the game. Studies describing the aerobic fitness profile of university students involved in soccer student activity units remain limited, particularly within the Airlangga University Soccer Club Student Activity Unit (UKM). Purpose: This study aimed to describe the aerobic fitness profile of members of the Airlangga University Soccer Club Student Activity Unit (UKM). Design: This study used a descriptive analytic design with primary data collection. The sample consisted of 40 students from the Airlangga University Soccer Club Student Activity Unit (UKM), selected using a total sampling technique. Aerobic fitness was measured using the Bleep Test to obtain VO₂max values. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with the Statistical Program for Social Science (SPSS) to present mean values and percentage distributions. Result: The results showed that VO₂max values ranged from 33.25 to 53.75 ml/kg/min, with an average of 43.50 ± 4.96 ml/kg/min. Most players were classified in the good (50%) and very good (30%) categories, while 10% were in the moderate category and 10% in the poor category, with no players categorized as very poor. Players with an ideal body mass index (BMI) tended to demonstrate better VO₂max values than those in the overweight category. Based on playing position, central midfielders showed the highest aerobic capacity, whereas goalkeepers tended to have lower aerobic capacity. All players trained more than twice per week with a duration of two hours per session, with agility training being the most dominant type of exercise. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the aerobic fitness level of players in the Airlangga University Soccer Club Student Activity Unit (UKM) is generally categorized as good, with most players classified in the good to very good category. Aerobic fitness varied according to body mass index (BMI) and playing position, where players with an ideal BMI and those playing as central midfielders tended to have higher VO₂max values compared to other positions.