Learning Outcomes
ALL of you will…
• Discuss & list the environmental factors
• Suggest what sports the somatotypes may be
more suited for
• Recall information to within 8% of target grade
in exam questions (Group 3)
MOST of you will…
• Recall information to target grade standard in
exam questions (Group 2)
SOME of you will…
• Recall information over target grade standard in
exam questions & mark example answers
(Group 1)
Physique
Your basic physique is something you are born with
and which develops naturally.
You may be able to influence your body composition
and musculature but your height and general body
shape are preordained.
Musculature:
The system or
arrangement of
muscles on a body
Body composition:
the percentage of body
weight that is fat, muscle
and bone
Somatotypes
Body type or physique can greatly affect
performance in different activities.
A performer’s somatotype can be measured against
the three extreme somatotypes:
Endomorph
Mesomorph
Ectomorph
Endomorph
Extreme endomorphs have the following characteristics:
Pear shaped with
wide hips and wide
shoulders
Tendency to gain fat,
especially on upper
arms and thighs
Short legs in relation
to their trunks
Mesomorph
Extreme mesomorphs have the following
characteristics:
Wedge-shaped body
with broad, wide
shoulders and narrow
hips
Minimum amount of
body fat
Muscular arms & legs
Mesomorph
Most sports favour the
strong, muscular limbs
and low body fat of the
mesomorphic shape.
The Australian swimmer,
Ian Thorpe, has a classic
mesomorphic body shape.
© EMPICS Ltd
Most common body
shape among elite
performers.
Ectomorph
Extreme ectomorphs have the following characteristics:
Predominantly long,
slender & thin
Narrow hips and
shoulders
Thin legs and arms
Very little muscle & body
fat
Which somatotype?
Somatotypes in sport
Ideal somatotypes for a performer will depend on their
sport or event.
Consider, for example, the
various body sizes and
shapes in a rugby team.
Most games players would
not fit into any of the
extreme body types!
Somatotypes in sport
ENVIRONMENT
• It is not a single factor
• Have some degree of control over some
environmental factors
• ALL factors have an effect on participation…
So what environmental factors can you and your
partner think of?
Altitude
Weather
Terrain
Environment
Humidity
Pollution
Weather
TRAINING
*Marathon runner
would need to carry
out distance runs as
part of their training,
which they might no
be able to do if there is
snow or ice.
COMPETING
*Competitions stop if the
weather is poor.
-too hot
-too windy
-too foggy
-too dry
-too cold
-during thunder storms
Pollution
• Air pollution is a serious
health risk for anyone
taking exercise in such
conditions.
• If pollution levels are high
then performing outside
will not be possible
Humidity
• The amount of water
vapour that is in the air.
• Humidity combined with
heat makes conditions very
difficult for performers to
keep their bodies cool
enough and to avoid
dehydration.
Dehydration: The rapid loss of
water from the body
In the World Cross Country Championships in
2007 high levels of humidity resulted in 20% of
the competitors failing to complete the distance.
ALTITUDE
• The height of an area above sea level.
• Training at high altitude can be a real benefit
as it increases the oxygen-capacity of the
blood.
What sporting event would altitude training or
living at high altitude be really beneficial to?
Terrain
• The landscape you require may be crucial to
your sport
Exam Question
1. Name the 3 extremes of body type? (3 marks)
2. For one of the identified body types. Describe a
sport or event they would be particularly suited
to and explain why this is so (4 marks)
3. Name 2 environmental factors and describe how
each effects participation (4 marks)
Mark Scheme
•
•
•
•
1. Name the 3 extremes of body type? (3 marks)
Ectomorph (1 mark)
Endomorph (1 mark)
Mesomorph (1 mark)
2.
For one of the identified body types. Describe a sport or event they
would be particularly suited to and explain why this is so (4 marks)
• Name the body type (1 mark)
• State the suitable sport (1 mark)
• Suggest 2 reasons why it is suitable (1 mark for each reason)
3.
Name 2 environmental factors and describe how each effects
participation (4 marks)
• Name the environmental factors (1 mark for each)
• Give a reason for each factor about how it effects participation (1 mark for
each reason)