Learning Outcomes ALL of you will…• Discuss & list the environmental factors• Suggest what sports the somatotypes may be more

suited for • Recall information to within 8% of target grade in

exam questions (Group 3)MOST of you will…• Recall information to target grade standard in exam

questions (Group 2) SOME of you will…• Recall information over target grade standard in exam

questions & mark example answers (Group 1)

PhysiqueYour basic physique is something you are born with

and which develops naturally.

You may be able to influence your body composition and musculature but your height and general body shape are preordained.

Body composition: the percentage of body

weight that is fat, muscle and bone

Musculature:The system or

arrangement of muscles on a body

SomatotypesBody type or physique can greatly affect performance in different activities.

A performer’s somatotype can be measured against the three extreme somatotypes:

Endomorph Mesomorph Ectomorph

EndomorphExtreme endomorphs have the following characteristics:

Pear shaped with wide hips and wide

shoulders

Tendency to gain fat, especially on upper

arms and thighs

Short legs in relation to their trunks

MesomorphExtreme mesomorphs have the following characteristics:

Wedge-shaped body with broad, wide

shoulders and narrow hips

Minimum amount of body fat

Muscular arms & legs

MesomorphMost common body shape among elite performers.

Most sports favour the strong, muscular limbs and low body fat of the mesomorphic shape.

The Australian swimmer, Ian Thorpe, has a classic mesomorphic body shape.

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Ectomorph

Predominantly long, slender & thin

Narrow hips and shoulders

Thin legs and arms

Very little muscle & body fat

Extreme ectomorphs have the following characteristics:

Which somatotype?

Somatotypes in sportIdeal somatotypes for a performer will depend on their sport or event.

Most games players would not fit into any of the extreme body types!

Consider, for example, the various body sizes and shapes in a rugby team.

Somatotypes in sport

ENVIRONMENT

• It is not a single factor

• Have some degree of control over some environmental factors

• ALL factors have an effect on participation…So what environmental factors can you and your partner think of?

Environment

Weather

Terrain

Pollution

Humidity

Altitude

WeatherTRAINING

*Marathon runner would need to carry out distance runs as part of their training, which they might no be able to do if there is snow or ice.

COMPETING

*Competitions stop if the weather is poor.-too hot-too windy-too foggy-too dry-too cold-during thunder storms

Pollution• Air pollution is a serious

health risk for anyone taking exercise in such conditions.

• If pollution levels are high then performing outside will not be possible

Humidity• The amount of water

vapour that is in the air.

• Humidity combined with heat makes conditions very difficult for performers to keep their bodies cool enough and to avoid dehydration.

Dehydration: The rapid loss of water from the body

In the World Cross Country Championships in 2007 high levels of humidity resulted in 20% of the competitors failing to complete the distance.

ALTITUDE• The height of an area above sea level.

• Training at high altitude can be a real benefit as it increases the oxygen-capacity of the blood.

What sporting event would altitude training or living at high altitude be really beneficial to?

Terrain

• The landscape you require may be crucial to your sport

Exam Question

1. Name the 3 extremes of body type? (3 marks)

2. For one of the identified body types. Describe a sport or event they would be particularly suited to and explain why this is so (4 marks)

3. Name 2 environmental factors and describe how each effects participation (4 marks)

Mark Scheme• 1. Name the 3 extremes of body type? (3 marks)• Ectomorph (1 mark)• Endomorph (1 mark)• Mesomorph (1 mark)

2. For one of the identified body types. Describe a sport or event they would be particularly suited to and explain why this is so (4 marks)

• Name the body type (1 mark)• State the suitable sport (1 mark)• Suggest 2 reasons why it is suitable (1 mark for each reason)

3. Name 2 environmental factors and describe how each effects participation (4 marks)• Name the environmental factors (1 mark for each)• Give a reason for each factor about how it effects participation (1 mark for each

reason)