The Influence of Team Invasion Sports’ Participation in the Phase Angle of Youth Athletes

Team invasion sports are characterized as ball games, played by two opponents, aiming to score points or goals. The aim intended to verify which team invasion sport presents a greater probability to obtain a higher phase angle (PhA) value, considering the age, time of practice, vertical jump tests and handgrip strength of young athletes. A total of 248 young athletes were evaluated. After performing the correlations between the PhA and categorical variables (sport and sex) and covariables (age, time of practice- t, squat jump- SJ, countermovement jump- CMJ, and handgrip strength left or right- HGSl or HGSr), we developed an equation from a logistic regression model, aiming to better interpret the probability to obtain a higher PhA. Our findings showed a significant correlation (p< 0.05) ranging from weak to moderate between the PhA and age (r=0.268), t (r =0.206), SJ (r=0.330), CMJ (r= 0.277), HGSr (r=0.537), and HGSl (r=0.523). Considering the median value of the PhA (7.7o) as a cut-off point, youth soccer players were the most likely to have 2.2 more chances to reach a higher PhA, followed by Futsal (2.13), and Rugby (2.01) players. Considering our equation, we suggested that higher PhA values predisposed the Soccer, Futsal and Rugby players to express greater jumping capacity or handgrip tests. Considering the advantage of using PhA as a marker of a healthy body composition profile, the magnitude of these probabilities to reach higher values of strength performance in young athletes may depend on the sport practiced and their exposure to specific training.