Somatotype and Physical Fitness Profiles of 6-12 Year-old Girls

The purpose of this study was determining the relationship between somatotype and selected physical fitness variables in 6-11 years-old girls. The subjects of this study consisted of 282 healthy girls with mean age of 08.44±01.40 years old, height of 129.88±10.48 cm and weight of 30.43±07.93 kg. Standard anthropometric methods were used to determine body mass, body height and all of skinfold and circumference measurements. All of the anthropometric measures were based on Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual procedures. The following tests for physical performances were used; handgrip strength test, audio-visual reaction time test, vertical jump test, 20m. sprint test, sit and reach test. All statistical analyses were performed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). Mean and standard deviation were calculated. Correlation coefficient was also computed to find out the relationship between somatotype and physical fitness variables. The BMI increases regularly from 6-11 years in ages groups from 17.09-19.10 kg/m 2 . In this study somatotype values were changed by age groups. According to the calculations, somatotypes were found as follows: 6-7 years-old group; endomorphicmesomorph, 7-8 years-old group; endomorphic-mesomorph, 8-9 years-old group; mesomorphic-endomorph, 9-10 years-old group; mesomorphic-endomorph, 10-11 years-old group; mesomorphic-endomorph. In performance tests according to age groups, flexibility abilities decreased with age while 20m sprint, vertical jump, handgrip strength, visual and auditory reaction abilities increased. In all age groups, there was a significant low negative correlation between endomorphy, mesomorphy, ectomorphy components and physical fitness tests.