P. Bale et al., ANTHROPOMETRIC AND SOMATOTYPE VARIABLES RELATED TO STRENGTH IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS, Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 34(4), 1994, pp. 383-389
The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in somato
type, %fat, and strength in relation to body mass of two groups of Ame
rican football players. One hundred and forty-three football players (
85 high school and 58 college) were classified into five weight groups
(< 73 kg, 73-82 kg, 83-91 kg, 91-100 kg, > 100 kg). Body composition
was estimated from skinfold, and somatotype was determined using the H
eath-Carter method. Strength was measured from one-repetition maximum
(1-RM) lifts in the bench press and deadlift. Most of the somatotypes
were dominant mesomorphs for the high school player and endomesomorphs
for the college player. The weight groups in both the high school and
college footballer showed significant differences in %fat, somatotype
, and strength measures between the lower and higher weight categories
. Weight was a greater factor dictating strength in either lift in the
high school player than in the college player. A higher mesomorphic c
omponent was a more important factor determining strength in the colle
ge player while a lower ectomorphic component contributed more in the
high school player. The proportion of the variance accounted for by re
gression equations for the bench press and deadlift was 17% to 41% in
the high school player and 35% to 61% in the college player. Although
football requires a large individual at certain positions, the questio
n remains concerning overall size Versus muscularity to achieve a supe
rior performance level.