Anthropometric Characteristics of Elite Athletes in Team Sports

Dimitris Hatzimanouil1, Nikos Oxizoglou2, Aphrodite Hatzimanouil1, Panagiotis Pantos1 & Stylianos Rizos2

1Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hellas

2Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hellas

Abstract

Anthropometry is a field of physical anthropology which studies the anthropometry characteristics, and contributes to the field of sport science. The aim of this study was to review the literature about somatotype and anthropometric characteristics of known elite athletes in team sports (waterpolo, handball, volleyball, football, basketball) and also to clarify the relation between these characteristics and athletic performance . The research findings showed that the athletes’ somatotype and anthropometric characteristics are related to the type of each sport. In addition there is a relation between high athletic performance and physical charac- teristics like high height, low percentage of body fat and high muscle mass.

Key words: anthropometry, somatotype, sport