BODY DIFFERENCESSOMATOTYPES Different sports means different body shape

BODY DIFFERENCESSOMATOTYPES

Different sports means different body shape and sizes

One of the natural assets of some people is their body build or physique. This can be measured and the result is known as your SOMATOTYPE. There are 3 somatotypes. 1. Endomorph 2. Mesomorph 3. Ectomorph Each of us is likely to be predominant in one or another of these.

Endomorph

Mesomorph

Ectomorph

Endomorph • A pear shape body • Wide hips and narrow shoulders • A lot of fat on body • A lot of fat on upper arms and thighs • Wider front to back rather than side to side Somatotype rating 7 1 1

Mesomorph • A wedge shape body • Wide shoulders and narrow hips • A large head • A muscular body • Broad shoulders • Strong forearms and thighs • Very little fat • Narrow front to back Somatotype rating 1 7 1

Ectomorph • Narrow shoulders and hips • Narrow chest and abdomen • Thin arms and legs • Thin face and high forehead • Very little muscle or body fat Somatotype rating 1 1 7

Various body measurements are needed in order to work out your somatotype and together with your age and gender, these scores are read from a chart. The measurements taken are for: 1. Height 2. Weight 3. Bone size 4. Muscle girth 5. Fat

A score out of 7 will then be given in the following categories: 1 Fatness ENDOMORPHY 2 Muscularity MESOMORPHY 3 Linearity (thinness ) ECTOMORPHY

1. Fatness ENDOMORPHY 2. Muscularity MESOMORPHY 3. Linearity (thinness) ECTOMORPHY So a persons somatotype might be 2: 6: 2 this would mean 2/7 for fat 6/7 for muscle 2/7 for thinness Once the somatotype is known, it can be plotted on a somato chart.

A blank somato chart

SOMATOTYPE Sportspeople from certain sports seem to group together on the somato chart. For example most people are mesomorphs, but some, such as marathon runners and jockeys are closer to the Ectomorph end of the scale

For high jumpers, being tall and light is an advantage. But they also need strong muscles for power and lift. The ideal build: ectomorph with some mesomorpt

A sumo wrestler needs to be heavy so that he’s hard to push or lift. He needs strength and power to move his opponent. Endomorph with some mesomorph is ideal.

Being light is an advantage for a gymnast. But she needs strong muscles to lift herself and hold a position. The ideal built: ectomorph with some mesomorph.

CAN YOU NAME THESE BODY TYPES ?

MESOMORPHY

ECTOMORPHY

ENDOMORPHY

Measuring your somatotype Measuring fat Most of the body is covered just beneath the skin with a substance that we call fat. As men get older they tend to increase in fat in the lower abdomen, while women increase fat on the thighs and buttocks as well. Fat is very good at conserving heat, so thin people feel the cold much more than fat people

In order to find your somatotype, it is necessary to measure your body fat, or skinfolds, at 4 sites on your body TO DO THIS YOU USE SKIN FOLD CALIPERS.

The Tricep Measurement

The Bicep Measurement

The Suprailiac Measurement

The Subrapula Measurement

WHERE DO YOU APPEAR ON THE SOMATOTYPE GRAPH ?

NOW COMPARE THAT WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF COLLEGE SPORTSMEN.

Somatotype distribution of college sportsmen