64 |International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | July – Sept 2016 | Vol 8 | Issue 3 Research Article Profiling and Distinction of Specific Skills Related Performance and Fitness Level between Senior and Junior Malaysian Youth Soccer Players MOHAMAD RAZALI ABDULLAH1, RABIU MUAZU MUSA1, NORLAILA AZURA KOSNI1, AHMAD BISYRI HUSIN MUSAWI MALIKI1, MAINUL HAQUE2 1 Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, University Sultan Zainal Abidin, 21300, Terengganu, Malaysia, 2 Faculty of Medicine and Defense Health, National Defense University of Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ABSTRACT Skills and physical fitness are found to be the contributing factors for successful performance in soccer game. The capability for the players to execute skills well as respond to the fitness requirements for the game determines their expertise. Both senior and junior soccer players require skills and fitness to perform efficiently. The aim of this study is to examine the distinction of specific skills related performance and fitness attributed to senior and junior Malaysian soccer players. Eighty-two senior soccer players and ninety-nine junior were recruited from six different soccer academies. Specific performance related skills and standard fitness tests were conducted. Discriminant analysis was employed to differentiate the skills and fitness possess by the two groups. 83.4% of the participants are correctly classified and 81.2% of cross-validated grouped cases are correctly identified based on the level of participation. Discriminant function analysis shows strong canonical correlation of (73%) with agility and 20m dash as a main predictor that contributed more in differentiating the groups, (χ 2 = 132.00, p < .05). Moreover, MANOVA follow up test revealed that multiple shuttle run, ball control, short pass, long pass, and shooting performance parameter shows significant difference between the two groups F (9,171) =21.48, p <.05, while sprint and recovery circuit dash 20 meter shows no significant difference p > .05. Senior soccer players are found to be more skillful and fitter as opposed to junior soccer players. Keywords: Discriminant function, Fitness level, junior players, senior players, Skill related performance, Soccer. INTRODUCTION  Address for Correspondence: Mainul Haque, Faculty of Medicine and Defense Health, National Defense University of Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Email id : runurono@gmail.com, Phone No : +60109265543 Received: 10.04.16, Revised: 10.05.16 Accepted: 09.06.16 Soccer successful performance is a norm requiring an enormous number of capacities that is significantly dependent upon an unpretentious blend of players' physical fitness, technique, strategic capacity, as well as specialized abilities [1]. At both levels of involvement, specialists, coaches, sports researchers and games analysts continue exploring consistently in view to improving these various areas of performance for achievement either to a lesser or maximum degree. As a manual for achieving these said objectives; performance evaluation gives a genuine record of the arrangement of events covering both individual and group performance with the perspective of providing insights into the capacity, quality or shortcoming of the team or an individual player [2]. It has actually been the premise for making an inference, procurement of input on performance and making an informed decision. It additionally served as a guide for recognizing effective strategy for enhancing technical, tactical, and physical skills in soccer for which has all been part of the coaching process. In any positive based framework for performance in soccer, learning of the physiological, strategic, tactical as well as technical requirements is necessary to help the formation and utilization of sufficient preparation in planning for the match at hand [3]. Essentially, investigation in male soccer has exhibited that the physical qualities, fitness demand, tactical, and technical attributes of players to meet the demand of the game during competition have considerably developed over the last decades [4, 5]. These requirements imply a broad assortment of characteristics that are vital in assisting players in seeking for ownership of the ball, responding rapidly and ideally to ceaselessly changing game circumstances, and sustaining high-performance levels all throughout the duration of game period and over the competitive season [6]. In this way, a careful comprehension of the athletic necessities particular to match-play and components impacting efficient performance can promise that right and reasonable assessments are taken for organizing the physiological, physical, tactical and technical components of preparing training programs towards