Abstract

This paper specifically attempts to examine the biological variability of athletes in relation to performance in specific sports in Uttar Pradesh (India). It is proposed to demonstrate: (a) if there are differences in terms of certain body dimension, such as, height, weight, and skinfold measurement, etc., among various sport, (b) if there are differences in somatotype distripution among athletes and non-athletes. The present study has been conducted on 165 athletes drawn from the Sport college, Lucknow and different Regional Centres-the Sports Hostels. Somatic measurements were taken after Martin and Seller (1957) and somatotype was done after Heath and Carter (1967). Equal number of normal healthy athletes drawn from the same socio-economic and biological categories as the athletes. Age, sex, socio-economic status scale as adopted by Kuppuswamy (1959) were used as controls. The present study reveals that there is significant difference in the physique required for specific sports. As a result the sprinters demonstrated variability in height. The field throwers and jumpers are taller while the former are heavier and j lighter athletes. The long distance runners are shorter and lighter among the track and field athletes. In sports like football the leg length is greater while in hockey the arm length is larger than footballers. However, the cricketers have significantly narrower hip breath. The wrestlers and throwers are mesomorphic while sprinters are ecto-mesomorphic. The long distance runners are ectomorphic. Similarity has been observed in the somato-types of footballers and hockey players. However, the volleyball players indicate ecto-mesomorphic characteristics. Verf.-Referat