%0 Journal Article
%T Genetic predictors of match performance in sub-elite Australian football players: a pilot study
%J Journal of exercise science and fitness
%D 2019
%A Jacob, Ysabel
%A Chivers, Paola
%A Anderton, Ryan S.
%V 17
%N 2
%P 41-46
%X The current study aimed to determine whether previously identified candidate polymorphisms were associated with match performance in sub-elite Australian Rules Football (ARF) players. The genotypes of thirty players were analysed along with 3x1-kilometre time trial results, ARF-specific skill assessments (handball and kicking), and match performance (direct game involvements) per minute (DGIs/min) to investigate if there was a relationship between any of the variables. <br><br>RESULTS support previous findings that aerobic time trials are a significant predictor of DGIs/min in sub-elite ARF players. Significant associations were found for genotypes <i>ADRB2</i> CC (<i>p</i> = .001), <i>PPARGC1A</i> AA (<i>p</i> = .001), <i>PPARGC1A</i> AG (<i>p</i> < .001), <i>ACE</i> ID (<i>p</i> < .001), <i>COMT</i> AA (<i>p</i> = .003), <i>BDNF</i> AG (<i>p</i> = .008), <i>ADRB1</i> CC (<i>p</i> = .018) and <i>ADRB3</i> CC (<i>p</i> = .010) and the 3x1-kilometre time trials (<i>p</i> < .001). In the current study, a variant in the <i>DRD2</i> gene was a strong predictor of handball possessions during a match. Significance was seen for variants in the <i>BDNF</i> and <i>COMT</i> genes when the kicking and handball skill test results were combined and used in a linear mixed model to predict DGIs/min, suggesting a potential relationship with motor learning. The confirmation of genetic predictors of player performance in a team sport, such as ARF, suggests a portion of the physiological mechanisms of skill and ARF-specific talent may be explained by the expression of a specific number of genes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 1728-869X
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesf.2018.10.007