ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS, BODY COMPOSITION AND SOMATOTYPE OF JUNIOR BADMINTON PLAYERS

Introduction: The aims of this study were to describe the anthropometric characteristics, body composition and somatotype of male (M) and female (F) Italian junior badminton players and to determine differences between high-level players, selected for national teams (NAT), and regional level players (REG). Methods: A total of 154 (89M; 65F) junior badminton players participated in this study. The athletes were divided into 8 groups according to age, gender and inclusion or not in national team: under 13-15 (U13-15) M-REG (n=41); U13-15 M-NAT (n=10); U13-15 F-REG (n=29); U13-15 F-NAT (n=9); under 17-19 (U17-19) M-REG (n=33); U17-19 M-NAT (n=5); U17-19 F REG (n=22); U17-19 F NAT (n=5). A total of 17 anthropometric variables were recorded to determine anthropometrics characteristics (height [H], body weight [BW]), to calculate body composition indexes (body mass index [BMI], % fat mass [%FM]) and somatotype (Carter, 1990). Results: There were no significant differences in H and BW between U13-15 REG vs NAT in M or F groups while, the U13-15 F-NAT group had less %FM (14,33±6,5 vs 19,5±6,73 %; p=0,049) and lower BMI (18,0±2 vs 20,1±2,55 kg/m2; p=0,047) compared to F-REG. In the U17-19 groups, the M-NAT was taller than M-REG (181±3,2 vs 176±6,0; p=0,048) and the F-NAT was heavier than F-REG (66,1±10,3 vs 58,0±5,99 kg; p=0,025) with no significant differences in %FM (21,3±9,38 vs 21,0±4,72 %). Generally all national groups, except U17-19 F-NAT, show a tendency to have lower %FM compared to the regional group. There were no significant differences in somatotype when compare REG vs NAT groups; the mean somatotype of all male junior badminton players could be defined as ectomesomorphic and the mean somatotype of female players could be defined as endomesomorphic. Conclusions: When comparing the REG and NAT groups, the U13-15 F-NAT was leaner and the U19-17 F-NAT had more fat free mass compared to U13-15 F-REG and U17-19 F-NAT respectively. In the U17-19 M, the NAT group was taller than REG group. The somatotype confirmed differences between male and female, but was not able to distinguish the national team group, especially in females. The data suggest that height and percentage of body fat of young badminton players should be considered in the selection of athletes for the youth national teams. Also, we can hypothesize that the differences could influence the playing style of junior players (Sánchez-Muñoz, 2007); therefore should be appropriate to modify conditioning programs and tactical performance according to gender and somatotype of young athletes.