The Comparison of Somatotype Structures in Students Studying at Different Departments of Physical Education

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the somatotype structures in students studying at different departments of physical education. A total of 300 male students (elite-sub-elite athletes) who study physical education and sports (n=100), coaching education (n=100) and sports management (n=100) at School of Physical Education and Sports at University of Kirsehir Ahi Evran voluntarily participated in this study. Somatotype structures were determined using Heath-Carter method and SOMATOTURK calculation program. SPSS 22.0 package program for Windows was used for correlation analysis, and the level of significance was taken as 0.05. The results indicate that while students (elite-sub-elite athletes) participating in the study had a mesomorph structure, which is one of the most important body structure parameters for performance and characterized by a muscularity component, during early periods of their education (freshman and sophomore years), their bodies transformed into an endomorph structure, which is characterized by fat components, during later periods of their education (junior and senior years).