Position-Specific Anthropometric Characteristics and Body Composition of Female Field Hockey Players

Ekta Kapri
Department of Family Resource Management, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India
Subrata Dey
Ergonomics and Sports Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Health and Wellness, Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Odisha, India
Manju Mehta
Department of Family Resource Management, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India
Kiran Singh
Department of Family Resource Management, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India
Keren Harish Tiwari
Department of Sports Physiology and Nutrition, National Sports University (A Central University), Imphal, Manipur, India
Erika Zemková
Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Published 25-04-2025

Keywords

  • Sports performance,
  • Body fat percentage,
  • Somatotype,
  • Physical fitness,
  • Bioelectrical impedance analysis,
  • Correlation
  • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Kapri, E., Dey, S., Mehta, M., Singh, K., Tiwari, K. H., & Zemková, E. (2025). Position-Specific Anthropometric Characteristics and Body Composition of Female Field Hockey Players. International Journal of Kinanthropometry, 5(1), 180–191. https://doi.org/10.34256/ijk25118

Dimensions

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and somatotypes of female field hockey players. Methods: The study involved 30 female athletes aged ranges 13-21 years from the Giri Center in Hisar, Haryana. The anthropometric measurements were conducted in accordance with the protocols of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was employed to assess body composition, while somatotype was determined using the Heath-Carter method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and somatotype indices to explore positional differences. Results: Results showed significant differences in physical attributes based on player positions. The study found significant correlations between height and lean body mass (r=0.639, p≤0.05), indicating the influence of height on muscle development. The anthropometric analysis showed that goalkeepers had notably higher skinfold measurements, signifying greater subcutaneous fat levels, corresponding to lower aerobic demands. Conversely, forwards exhibited substantially lower fat percentage (18.48±3.23%) and higher lean body mass (41.85±4.45 kg), emphasizing their requirement for agility and speed. Goalkeepers showed significantly higher mean shoulder breadth (40.51±1.81 cm, p≤0.0001) and knee height (51.56±2.10 cm, p≤0.0001). Additionally, somatotype analysis revealed that most players were classified as ectomorphic-endomorphs (mean indices of 4.47-1.95-3.31), with fullbacks displaying higher mesomorphy (mean 2.82). Conclusions: These findings emphasize the need for tailored training programs specific to player positions to optimize performance, reduce injury risks, and enhance team effectiveness.

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