Journal of Physical Education and Research (JOPER) IX,No.II; June, 2006
EVALUATION OF THE BODY PROPORTIONS
OF KWARA STATE BASKETBALL PLAYERS
By
DOMINIC, Olufunmilola L (M.ED)
Department of Physical & Health Education
University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
Abstract
Body size, shape and proportionality have been discovered to impose
constraints upon capacity for optimal performance in sports. Therefore this
study was carried out to evaluate the body proportions of percent body fat, fat
mass and fat- free mass, and muscle mass of the Kwara state senior players.
Purposive sampling technique was used to select 15 players who represented
the state at both National sports festivals and National Basketball
Championships. The expost- facto research design was used. It was
discovered that the Basketball players had high fat free mass, and muscle
mass and a normal BMI; but low fat mass and % body fat which was at a risk
zone even for wellness when compared with standard norms; This low % body
fat and a high muscle mass calls for nutritional interventions, since the more
muscle mass the higher the metabolic rate and a need for more calories to
meet up their energy need. This is as a result of hard workouts in order to
replace muscle glycogen. This may be one of the reasons for poor outings of
the team in national competitions.
Introduction
The physical Characteristics and body proportions of athletes have long
been associated with success or failure in sport competition. Basketball, a
game of speed, and penetration with frequent and aggressive body contracts
(Speech & Finch 1998) require from players, high level of strength and fitness
to more quickly around the court, and to safety execute a range of cutting,
jumping and ball throwing Maneuvers. The forty minutes stopping time of
match in basketball demands of the team to consistently score, dribble,
defend, rebound and prevent the opponent from scoring point to win by Legal
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means. This therefore demands specific qualities from the player body-makeup.
Reilly, Seecher, Small and William (1997) pointed out that individual
physique and body proportion or composition either greatly limit or to some
extent in one activity or the other. Oranugo (1995) added that competitive
sport demand the utmost from the body and it therefore reasonable to expect
athletes demonstration of the relation of structure and function
Percent body fat (% BF) has been defined as the percentage of total
weight that composed of fat (Guttin 1980, corbin & Lindsay, 1997). Every
person needs to possess a minimum amount of fat for good health and should
not allow body fats level to drop too low or become too high, to prevent over
fat, obesity or even malnutrition as a result of under nutrition.
Fat free mass synonymous to body mass (LBM) refers to all the body,
tissues with the exception of the stored deposit fat, This include muscle, bones
and Nerve Fibres covering, as well as essential fats the body must posses for
cell was construction and other structure.. Lean Body weight is a quantitative
measure of lean body mass express in Kilogrammes (Amusa, Igbanugo, &
Toriola, 1998, Ajaye – Vincent 2003). Matthew (1980) defined LBM as the
total body weight minus the weight of the stored fat.and the more the LBM,
the better. Nwankwo (1991) explained that this is so because of the active
tissues of muscles which are contractile and necessary for daily task.
The size of the muscle also accounts for increased strength and performance
in power activities such as jumping to rebound or shoot, running up and down
for forty minutes play. Therefore, the focus of this study is to estimate and
evaluate the body proportion of % Body Fat, Fat Mass, Body Mass Index
(BMI), Lean Body Mass (LBM) and muscle mass of the Kwara state senior
Basketball player.
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Hypothesis
The following Hypotheses were formulated for the study;
1. The Kwara State Basketball Senior players (a)have no significant
relative body weight and height required for Basketball playing
ability;
(b).and with no significant difference between the guards, forwards and
centre position players.
2. The Kwara state senior basketball players have no significant % body fat
and fat mass and no significant difference among the different position
players.
3. The Kwara state senior basketball players have no significant lean body
weight and muscle mass and also no significant difference among guards,
forwards and centre players.
METHODOLOGY
Research Design: - The expost facto research design was used since the
purpose of the study was to evaluate existing status of the senior basketball
players without any manipulation.
The population comprised of the Kwara state senior basketball players.
The purposive sampling technique was to used to select fifteen subjects who
completed the measurements as the sample. The ages of the players were
above twenty-one years. These players have represented the State in National
Sport festival and National league competition.
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DOCUMENTATION
Theinstruments for data collection were bathroom weighing scale (stone
brand) which was used to measure the weight of the subjects to the nearest
0.1 kg (ii) Lange skinfold caliper (fat metre) was used to measure Skinbfold
thickness; biceps, triceps, supra-iliac, and Subscapular to calculate % body
fat, Fat mass and fat –free mass. % body fat was calculated using the Brozek
et.al (1963) formula with mass and fat-free mass derived from the %body fat.
This has been found to give a high reliability coefficient of 0.80 by Mc Ardle
and Mc Ardle (1973) and 0.99 by Behnke and Wilmore (1974).
Muscle mass was calculated as developed by Martins, Spenst, Drink water and
Clarys (1990) and also had high coefficient correlation.
Height length was calibrated on the Kwara state gymnasium wall in
centimetre to determine the statures of the players. Age was obtained from
players and non-elastic tape was used to measure body girths.
The measurements were all taken based on the standardized methods
and instrument available as approved by the International Society of
Advancement of Kin-authropometry (ISAK 2000). Three trials were taken for
all measurements and the averages were recorded.
Results
The descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used and
one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test inter-players
positional differences in height, weight, and body proportion estimations.
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Below are the presentations of the results;
TABLE 1
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
BASKETBALL PLAYERS.
Variable
N
X
S.D Guard Forward
7
5
Age (Yrs) 15 24.27
3.2
Height(Cm)
SENIOR
KWARA
Centre
3
-
df
-
Fcal
STATE
-
F
Table
-
15
183.2
9.04
176.2
189.5
189.9
14
7.66*
3.89
Weight (Kg) 15
79.89
9.37
73.27
83.8
88.89
14
5.97*
3.89
In table 1 above, the senior basketball players have means and S.Ds of
24.271+- 3.2 for age; 183.2+9.04 for height and 79.89+9.37 weight which
commensurate with that of international and professional basketball players.
However, the guards were shorter and smaller to the forwards and center
players and with ‘F’ value of 7.66, and 5.98 the significant difference were
established for height and weight respectively; hence the rejection of the
hypotheses, that the team has no relative height and weight for basketball
playing ability and that there is no significant differences between guards,
forward and the centre players..
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TABLE I1
ESTIMATION OF % BODY FAT, FAT-FREE, LEAN BODY WEIGHT
AND MUSCLE MASS.
VARIABLE
N
X
S.D
DF Fcal.
F table
1. BODY FAT
15
4.69
2.21
14
1.05
3.89
2.FAT MASS
15
37.10
17.15
14
0.35
3.89
3.LEAN BODY
15
73.24
17.30
14
0.07
3.89
15
23.79
2.12
14
0.44
3.89
15
48.56
7.86
14
0.81
3.89
WEIGHT(KG)
4. BODY MASS
INDEX(BMI) %
5. MUSCLE
MASS
The table reveals low % body fat of 4.69 + 2. 21, low fat mass (37.10) and
high lean body weight of (73.24+17.30) and high muscle mass (48.56+7.86).
The F. table is higher than the f calculated, indicating the acceptance of the
hypothesis that significant differences do not exist in the guard, forward and
centre players’ body proportion estimations.
Discussion
The Kwara state senior basketball players compared favorably well with
both Olympics and international professional players in age, height and weight
(international and professional players; Pollock, Foster, Anholm, Hare Ferrel,
Maksud & Andrew 1982; Carter 1970; University of IOWA and Russia,
Carter1970, Kukushinkin,1964). There was also positive relationship between
height and weight correlate of the Kwara state players, implying that the taller
a player is, the heavier he becomes. Oranugo (1995) supported that adequate
weight is necessary for stability and balanced motion in speed plays of cutting
and stopping, in addition to quickness in arms and hands. Also as reported by
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Oranugo (1995) of the weight range (76.7-90.7kg) and height range (186.9198.4cm) of the above teams, the Kwara state senior basketball team’s age,
height and weight commensurate with world standard and therefore possess
significant body height and weight for optional performance in the basketball
sport.
The age of the Kwara state senior basketball players also fell within age range
for optimal performance which DeVeries (1980) and Owolabi (1987) reported
is between late teens and thirty years..
In the estimation of body proportional ratios, the players possess low % BF
(4.69%) and there was no significant difference between the guards, forwards
and centre players % BF. Through the BMI was normal without any
cardiovascular risk (23.79). Fahey et.al (2001) reported that though low % BF
is not a prevalent problem, but having too little is dangerous (-5 % in men, - 8
% in women) for furthermore, too much or too little can have negative effect
on health, performances and even self image. This puts the senior basketball
team in the danger zone especially with participation in vigorous and
demanding sports like basketball. The reports of Durnin and Womersleys
(1974) of % BF of 13+ 1 % as typical percentage value for elite male
basketball players; Wilmore (1983) 8%;of professional basketball by Pollock
et.al (1982) as 9.6 % and University basketball players 9.8% & as reported by
Oranugo (1984), further buttressed the risk domain of the Kwara players.
Heyward (1998) explained that these risks caused by too little fats are
associated with Malnutrition, and therefore there is a need for nutritional
intervention programme for the Kwara basketball players. Fahey et.al. (2001)
added that the combinations of low level of eating habit are associated with
nutritional habits imperative to the players.
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There were no significant differences between the guards, forwards and
centre players in muscle mass, fat mass and lean body weight (LBM) The
superiority of the musculature of the Kwara state basketball players were
demonstrated by high LBM (73.24+30) high muscle mass (37.10+17.51)
which indicated that they are strong and well equipped. But according to
Fahey et.al (1994) the more muscle mass the higher metabolic rate, indicating
the need of the players for more calories to meet up with their energy needs.
Rosato (1994) reported that muscles expend calories much more than fat and
that, those who increase their fat free mass, associated with higher metablic
rate, due to burning of calories thus raising the energy expenditure.
O’ Shea (2000) explained that athletes can develop lean muscle-mass
and strength without assuming the medical risks involve through correct
balance of nutrition, rest and exercise, to achieve maximum peak athletic
performance. The basketball players need to take a step of nutritional
correctness, since nerve and muscle can not function optimally without steady
supply of glycogen, consequently the harder they train and stress the muscle
the more glycogen they require. Therefore following each day basketball hard
workout, if the muscle glycogen is not replaced adequately through balanced
diet, intensity of the following workout will suffer, thus leading to poor
performance in National basketball Championship
Conclusively, Hoeger (1987) added that the alterations in body
composition most often attributed to aerobic performance are a decrease in fat
free mass due to the burning of calories and loosing of the body fat. This is an
indication of the significance of athletes’ weight monitoring and nutrition
programme, because metabolic rate is directed proportional to lean body mass.
CONCLUSION
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The Kwara state senior basketball players have been found to compare
favourably with world, professional and university players in age, weight and
height. The players also had superior musculature of high muscle mass, lean
body weight and normal BMI and low, fat mass and low % BF which is at risk
level. The low risk level of % BF indicated a need for nutritional intervention
due to too little body fat so as to be able to meet up with their body energy
need, as a result of greater fat – free mass and muscle mass. This demands of
the body more calories and restoration of glycogen depletion. This is as a
result of extensive daily hardwork out with the basketball training sessions.
The low body fat is established to have negative effect on health and optimal
performances.
RECOMMENDATION
This study therefore recommends;
1. That the Kwara state senior team should be given special attention and
care in area of nutrition by the state,by giving special allowances to the
players to augment for their feeding since majority of the players are
not sport council employees.
2. if possible, job opportunities should be extended to those who are not
working;
3. During competition, proper feeding should be ensured for the athletes
and the athletes’ health and fitness should be monitored.
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