ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS AND PERFORMANCE RELATED PREDICTORS OF SUCCESS IN ADOLESCENT POLE VAULTERS

The purpose of this study was to determine the anthropometric characte ristics of skilled adolescent pole vaulters and to examine the strengt h of anthropometric and physical performance variables in predicting v aulting performance (N = 87; age group range 13-18 years). The vaultin g height of the subjects ranged from 1.98 to 4.72m (mean 3.58 +/- s.d. 0.536m). The vaulters were classified as ectomorphic mesomorphs with an average somatotype of 1.6-4.2-3.5 (s.d. +/- 0.38-0.94-1.00). One wa y analysis of variance showed that while measures of stature, physical performance and vault performance significantly increased (p < 0.05) across age groups, somatotype and sum of skinfolds remained stable. St epwise regression analysis showed the best predictor of vaulting perfo rmance was hand grip height (R2 = 0.78, p < 0.05). Correlation analysi s showed that grip height was strongly correlated to vault height (r=0 .88), age (r = 0.72), body mass (r = 0.71), standing long jump (r = 0. 69), running speed (r = 0.69), biceps girth (r = 0.66), standing heigh t (0.65), calf girth (0.61) and pull-ups (r = 0.44). It was concluded that the somatotype of skilled young pole vaulters is similar to that of junior Olympic and adult Olympic vaulters, and that this somatotype is a selective factor for this event as early as thirteen years of ag e. Proficiency in pole vaulting is best predicted by grip height, whic h is strongly correlated to stature and simple field measures of leg s peed and power, and upper body muscular endurance. These findings may be applied to the selection and training of young pole vaulters..