Relationship Between Selected Anthropometric Parameters and 50m Freestyle Swimming Time in Teenage Swimmers

Abstract

Swimming is an Olympic sport which is a very popular endurance development activity around the world. Anthropometry is one of the main factors that influences the swimming performance of teenagers. This study aimed to examine the relationship between selected anthropometric parameters and 50 m freestyle swimming time in teenage swimmers. The sample was thirty (n=30) provincial level male swimmers aged 13-17 years. Their body weight, height and BMI were 35.0 - 96.5 Kg, 136.0 - 181.9 cm and 21.81 Kgm−2 respectively. The dependent variable was 50 m freestyle swimming time and the independent variable was anthropometric parameters viz. body weight, height, length measurements (upper arm, lower arm, hand, upper leg, lower leg, foot, arm span), circumference (chest, abdomen) and skinfold measurements (bicep girth, triceps girth). Data were collected from 50 m freestyle swimming race and measuring thirteen anthropometric parameter sites of the body. Stadiometer, digital weighing scale, skinfold caliper, measuring tape and stop watch were used as measuring instruments. Pearson correlation coefficient in SPSS (version 26.0) was applied to determine the relationship between 50 m freestyle swimming time and anthropometric parameters of sample swimmers at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that the mean values of swimming time, body weight and height were 39.9±7.30 seconds, 57.65±15.91 Kg and 162.56±9.74 cm respectively. The body weight (r=0.376, p=0.041), height (r=0.375, p=0.041) and hand length (r=0.397, p=0.030) showed a significant positive moderate correlation with 50 m freestyle swimming time. There was no significant relationship between the 50 m freestyle swimming time with upper arm length, lower arm length, upper leg length, lower leg length, foot length, arm span, chest and abdominal circumference, bicep and triceps girth. The study concludes that the anthropometric parameters influence the swimming time of the teenage male swimmers and they have to manage their anthropometric parameters of the body related to the sport for improved performance.