INTRODUCTION: The knowledge on the ideal physical profile for each task, and on the injuries which mostly happen to each athlete, is essential to any successful team. This study had two aims: (a) to define the athletes' physical profile and (b) to epidemiologically study the injuries suffered during the Municipal Amateur Soccer Cup. METHODOLOGY: 50 athletes divided in five groups were assessed: goalkeepers (GO); fullbacks (FB); sideways (SW); midfielders (MF); forwards (FO). The injuries were classified by area, mechanism, severity and player's position. RESULTS: The physical profile of the athletes was: 5'21'' ± 2.75'' height, 165.08 ± 1.79 lb weight, 15.19 ± 3.03 % body fat percentage, 27.56 ± 12.0 cm flexibility and age of 25.32 ± 4.41. The analysis held revealed significant differences between height (p < 0.001) and weight (p = 0.021) related to the athlete's position on the field, and correlation between injury occurrence and flexibility decrease. 21 injuries were recorded in 53 games, corresponding to 0.40 injuries/game, or 12 injuries/1,000 hours/athlete. Contact injuries represented 57%; nine injuries (43%) were light, and only five (24%) were considered severe. CONCLUSION: the athletes' physical profile assessed was similar to the previous reference and homogeneous in the body fat percentage, flexibility and age variables. Significant statistical difference was observed in height and weight; injury occurrence was lower than in previous studies; the area, situation in which they occurred and correlation with flexibility were in agreement with the literature.
amateur soccer; biotype; sports injury; injury mechanisms; flexibility
