Physical%20Differences

1
Physical Differences

• BODY SHAPE
• body shape is described by somatotyping. A
  somatotype uses a triangular graph with 3 axes
  ranging from 1 to 7 to describe how a person
  physique relates to three extremes
• these extremes are

2

• ENDOMORPH
• fatty upper arms
• relatively thin wrists
• wide hips
• narrow shoulder
• fatty thighs

3

• MESOMORPH
• large head
• broad shoulders
• strong forearms
• narrow hips

4

• ECTOMORPH
• narrow face and high forehead
• narrow shoulders
• thin, narrow chest and abdomen
• slim hips
• the values for somatotype are always stated in
  this order. Therefore, an extreme ectomorph is
  117 whilst an extreme endomorph is 711

5

• HEIGHT -
• height can be an advantage when playing
  particular sports. For example, basketball.

6

• WEIGHT -
• the influence of bodyweight is perhaps more
  obvious especially if its excessive. Mobility and
  speed may be affected and people who are
  seriously overweight may find it difficult to
  sustain the full duration of a team game.
• being the wrong weight can lead to some health
  problems
• the risk of heart attacks, strokes and high blood
  pressure increases for people who are overweight

7

• AGE -
• as people get older the body starts to slow down
  muscles included the heart lose some of their
  capacity for long endurance and for effort so
  that endurance and strength are reduced
• also become less flexible with age
• reaction speed and limb speed also reduce
• these effects can be reduced by continuing to
  participate in physical activity throughout life

8

• GENDER -
• there are differences in the physical
  capabilities of males and females
• men are naturally more muscular than women, which
  affects strength
• women have a 30 greater fat content than men,
  this contributes greatly to their muscular
  endurance
• as women get older changes to their hormonal
  system can make their bones more brittle, which
  can affect performance
• social attitudes have been much more important
  than physical differences in affecting
  participation and performance on the basis of
  gender, for example male doing dance and
  gymnastic used to be thought of as unmanly

9
Womens football is now becoming more established
throughout the world
10

• DISABILITY -
• there are many types of disability
• there are people who become physically or
  mentally less able through inherited conditions,
  illness and accidents
• society now focuses on what the disabled can do
  rather than what they cannot do
• greater provision for the disabled athlete is
  made through Disability Sport England (1994).
  These include
• improved access to more sports
• more involvement with fully abled
• competitions for the disabled
• media coverage raises awareness recognition of
  their needs