Physique/Somatotype
Objectives
•Consider the link between body type and
somatotype
•Consider the three types of somatotype
that exist
•Consider the most suitable body type for a
role or position in a particular sport.
• Physique (the form, size and development of a
•
•
person’s body) is closely linked to body type.
It is something that you are born with and
develops naturally. It is determined genetically.
Therefore you have little control over it.
Body shape, composition and musculature can
be improved but you cannot make drastic
changes such as increasing your height or your
basic bone structure.
Body composition: the %age of body weight that is fat, muscle and bone.
Musculature: the system or arrangement of muscles on the body.
• People come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Body type or physique can greatly affect
performance in different activities.
• Body type is also known as somatotype
which was identified by an American called
William Sheldon.
• There are three types of extreme
Somatotype:- Ectomorph
Mesomorph
Endomorph
Somatotypes: different body types based on shape, most commonly ectomorph,
mesomorph and ectomorph.
• Your somatotype may mean you are more
suited a certain sport or activity than
others.
• Some activities will be more difficult with
little chance of success.
ECTOMORPH
Ectomorphs have the following characteristics:
Long, slender and thin
Very little muscle or
body fat
Narrow hips and
shoulders
Thin legs and arms
A narrow chest and
abdomen
Thin face and high
forehead
Ectomorph
• Owing to their slight build they are not
suited to power events but can succeed at
endurance events and gymnastics where
their slight frame is an advantage.
Mesomorph
Mesomorphs have the following characteristics:
Very little body fat
A muscular body
Broad shoulders
and narrow hips
A large head
Strong forearms
and thighs
Mesomorph
• An extreme mesomorph can excel in
speed, agility and strength sports as well
as being suited to swimming.
• Their body type makes them suitable for
most sports at a high level.
Endomorph
Endomorphs have the following characteristics:
Pear shaped body
A lot of body fat
A lot of fat on the
upper arms and
thighs
Wide hips and
narrow shoulders
Fairly slim wrists and
ankles
Short legs in relation
to their trunks.
Endomorph
• Endomorphs will have difficulty in weight
bearing aerobic exercises such as distance
running but in sports such as rugby, their
bulk will have an advantage in certain
playing positions such as pack members in
the scrum.
• Trunk: the middle part of your body (midsection)
So which is which??
So which is which??
Which somatotype?
•All performers are made up of elements of these three
extreme somatotypes.
•Most people have a mixture of mesomorphic, endomorphic
and ectomorphic characteristics.
•A person’s somatotype can be graded using a scoring
system. They are given 3 scores between 1 and 7, according
to how well they conform to each of the extreme somatotypes.
•1 is a low score, 7 is a high score. For example:
1, 7, 2
Low endomorph
High mesomorph
Low ectomorph
Which Somatotype?
• Everyone is a mixture of all three basic
body types, with most ratings 3 4 4 or 3 5
2 or close to that.
• Your somatotype could be well suited to a
particular sport or you could be
particularly unsuited to another!!!
• It makes sense for you to identify this
early in the sport rather than having to
keep trying to overcome the limitations of
your body.
Potential!
• In the 1990’s the Australians ran national
programme called Sport Search . All
schoolchildren were measured and their
somatotypes and levels of fitness were matched
to certain sports.
• In the past much of eastern Europe ran similar
programmes and often very young children were
taken to sports camps and trained in the sports
which their somatotypes suggested that they
could excel in.
• Examples of this would be female extreme
ectomorphs would be trained as gymnasts –
why?
• Extreme endomorphs would be suited to
weightlifting so they would be put on a training
regime to bulk up muscle.
• Extreme mesomorphs would be well suited to
swimming or basketball or high jump – all top
performers in these sports are over 6 feet tall
Mesomorph
Most sports favour the
strong, muscular limbs
and low body fat of the
mesomorphic shape.
The American swimmer,
Michael Phelps, has a
classic mesomorphic body
shape.
© EMPICS Ltd
The mesomorphic shape
is the most common body
shape among elite
performers.
• So does
Rebecca
Adlington
• Now try to
name 2 men
and 2
women who
are also
mesomorphs
• There are of course lots of sports where you can
succeed whatever your somatotype and also it is
worth remembering that some aspects of your
body type can change as you grow and develop
– such as height and weight.
• Your true somatotype will not be established
until you are fully grown.
Somatotypes in sport
Certain somatotypes tend to be found in certain sports.
The ideal somatotype for a performer will depend on their
sport or event. In some cases, the position that they play in
a particular sport might
also be important.
Consider, for example,
the various body sizes
and shapes in a rugby
team.
Somatotypes in sport
Key Terms
• Body composition: the %age of body weight
•
•
•
that is fat, muscle and bone.
Musculature: the system or arrangement of
muscles on the body.
Somatotypes: different body types based on
shape, most commonly ectomorph, mesomorph
and ectomorph.
Trunk: the middle part of your body
(midsection)
Examiner’s Tip!
You not only need to know categories of
somatotypes but you also need to know
specifically how a particular body type
could affect the choice of and its suitability
for a particular event or activity.