Starter
• For each of the 3 following sports using simple
shapes draw on your white board the body
shapes that you think would suit each.
1.Basketball
2.Footballer
3.Shot putter
Somatotypes
(Body shape / Physique)
Objectives
1. To understand the characteristics of each Somatotype
2. To explain why different somatotypes are suited to
different sporting activities.
Somatotypes / Physique
All must
• Know the 3 somatotypes and give some
characteristics of each
Most should
• Identify suitable sports for each somatotype
Some might
• Explain why each somatotype is suited to a
particular sport (using the characteristics)
Somatotypes
People come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Body
shape/physique is also known as somatotype.
A performer’s physique can be measured against the three
extreme somatotypes:
Most people are often a mix of 2 physiques.
Endomorph
Mesomorph
Ectomorph
Endomorph
(dumpy/doughnut)
Extreme endomorphs have the following characteristics:
A lot of body fat
A lot of fat on the
upper arms and
thighs
Wide hips and
narrow shoulders
Mesomorph
(Muscular)
Extreme mesomorphs have the following characteristics:
Very little body fat
A muscular body
Broad shoulders
and narrow hips
Strong forearms
and thighs
Ectomorph
(Thin)
Extreme ectomorphs have the following characteristics:
Very little muscle or
body fat
Narrow hips and
shoulders
Thin legs and arms
A narrow chest and
abdomen
Which somatotype?
Wide hips and narrow shoulders
Very little body fat
Muscular body
Thin arms and legs
A lot of fat on the body
Broad shoulders and narrow hips
A lot of fat on the upper arms and thighs
Narrow shoulders and hips
Strong forearms and thighs
Somatotypes in sport
Task
• Complete the worksheet on your desk
1. Name each somatotype / body shape
2. Describe each somatotype / physique
3. On your lined paper describe and explain 2
suitable sports for each somatotype. Explain
why.