Provincial description of somatotype profile of 9-13 years old Iranian boys in martial arts

Abstract
Introduction: Different sports require athletes with special shape and size.

Findings of researches have reported the relationship between somatotype

components and athletic performance, similarity of somatotype of junior and

senior athletes in the same sport and, consistency of somatotype through

lifespan. In according to the fact that, somatotype is related to genetic factors

and not influenced by training and nutrition, this index can be helpful in

identification of talents. Lack of investigation examining somatotype profile of

Iranian population, the aim of present study was to describe somatotype profile

of Iranian 9-13 years old boys of country provinces in martial sports.

Methodology: present investigation is descriptive and field study. Population is

9-13 years old boys who participated in Basij Sport Organization leisure time

programs. Sample includes 1726 boys in that age rang. Anthropometric

characteristics were measured using ISAK instruction and somatotpye was

assessed using Heath-Carter method.

Findings: results showed that Ectomorphic component of Iranian boys was 3.1,

Mesomorphy was 4.1 and Endomorphic was 3.1. also revealed that the Iranian

9-13 years old boys have balanced mesomorph somatotype.

Discussion: based on previous researches, elite Karateka in worldwide top

teams like Germany have Ectomorph-Mesomorph type, also somatotype of elite

taekwondo ka is Ectomorph-Mesomorph too and in Judo somatotype of elite

athletes is Balanced Mesomorphy. Based on the finding of present study the

boys of Ilam, Fars, Qazvin, Qom, Lorestan, Khorasan Razavi and Yazd have

Ectomorph-Mesomorph somatotype and, boys in Mazandaran, Kerman,

Kemanshah, Kurdestan, Markazi, Azarbayjan Sharghi, Khouzestan and

Bousher provinces have balanced mesomorph somatotye.

Keywords