Physique and Body Type

SOMATOTYPING

Something to think about! What makes Osafa Powell the fastest man on the

planet?

What makes Paula Radcliffe a world class marathon runner?

What makes Joel Stewart the Worlds Strongest Man?

Somatotyping

Our sporting success comes from a combination of ability and appropriate body shape. There are three basic body types called SOMATOTYPES.

These are the extremes of body shape.

You could say Somatotyping is a way to describe build or body shape.

These are:

ENDOMORPH MESOMORPH ECTOMORPH

Endomorph Pear or (oval/rounded) Wide hips Rounded head Lot of fat especially in the

centre of the body, upper arms and thighs

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endomorph.WMV

Sporting Examples Endomorphs tend to be

most suited to activities such as

Darts Shot putters Discus Throwers

Mesomorph Wedge shaped with wide

shoulders and narrow hips. Strong muscular arms and

legs. Little or no fat. ..\GCSE FOLDERS PE F

ROM \Diet & Physique\Atlanta 100m final.avi

Mesomorph Mesomorph’s tend to be

suited to most sporting activities.

Sprinters Rowers Weight Lifters

Ectomorph Thin and lean with narrow

shoulders and hips. Thin arms/legs. Little fat and fragile frame Little muscle bulk.

Ectomorph Ectomorph’s tend to be

suited to sports such as,

Marathon Running

High Jumping

Basketball

What am I?

A person does not usually fit into just one of these categories and in fact extreme cases of the three are rare.

Most people will have a mixture of the three types in their own body shape.

For example Andrew Flintoff

Some mesomorph characteristics such as wide shoulders, and muscular, however also has wide hips, characteristics of an Endomorph.

Your Shape Your shape will also determine how high a level you will

reach in each Component of fitness such as speed strength stamina and also therefore are certain body types more suited to ballet than shot putters and sumo-wrestling.

As a result often top level competitors of a sport often have similar body shapes and are usually mesomorph>

For example these young ladies…

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Lower level competitors

Usually have a mixture of body types I.e Sunday League football, or netball.

Example

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Remember You cannot actually do much to alter your body type.

Why is this?

It is due to your genes and inheritance.

However diets can change your fat levels and strength training can increase your muscle mass but they will not drastically affect your body type.