Anthropometric Profile of Female and Male Players Engaged in Different Sports Disciplines

Objective: To assess anthropometric profile of players. Methodology: A total of 13 female & 46 male trained players engaged in different sports disciplines were selected. Anthropometric indices were measured using standard procedures and compared with their respective standards. Results: Irrespective of sex & sport disciplines, all players were found to be shorter than their respective standard heights. Less than 50 % groups of male players were found meeting the desirable body weight standards. Positive correlations were derived between height & weight for majority of sport groups of female & male players. Body weight was found to be directly proportional to shoulder width with positive correlation. Body mass index revealed stronger correlation with weight than height.Conclusion: Even though players were not meeting the standard norms of height & weight, they were successfully competing either at state or University level which could be attributed to mental strength, motivation & physical adaptations of players. Name of the department where the work was done: Post Graduate Department of Home-Science, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Jyotiba Phule Campus, Amravati Road440010, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. INTRODUCTION There is a wealth of scientific & empirical evidence to support the claim that there are body size differences among athletes in different sports & games & among events within the same sport. The age, height & body size of national & international players are of interest from several points of view. Chronological age of top class athletes indicates the time at which peak performance might be expected. It is lower in case of swimming & higher in case of track & field & still higher in case of team game’s athletes. Peak performance age in different sports disciplines is associated with the time to start sport training in a particular sport & time needed to develop the necessary physique & level of performance. With regards to height & weight, certain body dimensions are necessary for success in selected sports. In some games, lighter body weight & comparatively smaller body size is required whereas in others, heavier weight & huge body size is needed to achieve optimum performance. Athletics, game or contest, played individually or in team, involves physical strength, skill & endurance. It needs long & stronger legs / calf & thighs to run & cover the distance in minimum time period. Badminton, a game for two or four players, using light weight rackets along with a shuttlecock back & forth over a net, trying to keep it from hitting the ground, requires light but strong bodies. Basketball players need long upper & lower extremities make them suitable to catch the ball with jumps, provide them with a wider reach during the passes & make it easier for them while throwing the ball into the basket. Volleyball requires tall players to play the game by hitting an inflated ball back & forth over a high net. It needs strong shoulders & wrists to withhold the pressure of the ball. A well developed physique with maximum force is needed for weightlifters (Parizkova, 1991; Maffulli, 1992; Lusting & Sttrauss, 2003). Anthropometry comprises techniques that readily contribute to a more in-depth understanding of body composition & nutritional status, allowing the quantification of observations & the observation of changes with time. Championship performances no longer occur at random or as a result of chance alone. International sports performance in various sports & games are influenced by many factors such as level of physical, physiological & psychological abilities. Body measurements help talk about nutritional status & highlight the changes due to sports activities. (Debnath, 1994).