This study was conducted to show how a 3-month football training program affected some minerals in the serum in male children between 8 and 12 years of age. The study registered 8 boys whose mean age was 10.89±0.70 years, mean height was 140.89±3.61 cm and mean weight was 33.44±2.58 kg. The subjects were regularly trained in the accompaniment of coaches for 3 months (4-5 days a week). Football technique and tactic training sessions were of medium intensity, endurance training was of 60-70% intensity, while strength and speed training sessions were of 80-90% intensity. Blood samples of 5 ml each were taken into plain tubes from the subjects twice, once at the beginning of the study and once at the end of the 3-month training sessions, after 12 hours of nocturnal fasting. Serum Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Phosphorus (P) levels were measured in Backman LX-20 autoanalyzer using Backman Coulter test kits. The levels of Na, K, Ca, Mg and P did not differ significantly before and after the study. Results of the present study demonstrate that 3-month football training does not have a significant effect on the concerned parameters in boys in the 8-12 age group.

Key words: Boys, Football, Mineral Metabolism