SOMATOTYPE OF NIGERIAN MALE YOUTH HANDBALL PLAYERS IN DIFFERENT PLAYING POSITIONS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the somatotype components common to Nigerian junior male handball players and analyse differences in these components according to the players’ playing positions. 106 Nigerian junior male players, with average age of 17.2 years grouped according to playing positions of Goalkeeper (n=17); inside back (n=34); centre back (n=14); pivot (n=15) and wing (n=26) made up the sample for the study. The results revealed that Nigerian junior handball players were predominantly mesomorphic ectomorphs. From the perspectives of the playing position, the pivot and the centre back players were differently classified as ectomorphic mesomorph and mesomorph ectomorphs respectively. The goalkeeper, inside back and wing players were classified as mesomorphic ectomorphs. The ectomorphy component was significantly higher than the mesomorphy and endomorphy components with the inside back and wing players having significantly higher ectomorphy ratings than the pivot players.