Fifty-meter swimming performance in young swimmers: the effect of anthropometric and motoric values on performance

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sports performance may be affected by many factors, such as physical abilities and physiological efficiency, technical skills, tactical strategy, and most importantly mental preparing. The main aim of this study presents that used a regression modeling approach to identify the affecting components, including anthropometric structure and some performance variables associated with 50-m swim performance in children. METHODS: In this study, a total of 22 voluntary athletes (male: N.=10; female: N.=12) participated that the age ranging from 11-13 years (female: 12.1±0.9 years; male: 11.9±0.7 years). RESULTS: There is no statistical differences in age, height, body mass and training experiences among groups that participated in this study (P>0.05). In breaststroke, the best time was correlated with aerobic endurance, height, arm length, flexibility, biceps circumference, hand length, upper body length; in butterfly style, it was correlated with aerobic endurance, standing horizontal jump (SHJ), height, and arm length; in freestyle, it was correlated with aerobic endurance and flexibility. In backstroke, it was correlated with aerobic endurance, SHJ. Multiple linear regressions showed that the effective variables on swimming scores are shown respectively; in butterfly style, aerobic endurance, arm length, and upper body length; in freestyle, SHJ, foot dorsiflexion, and aerobic endurance; in breaststroke, aerobic endurance, foot length. In backstroke, leg flexion. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the importance of considering anthropometric characteristics and aerobic endurance in of young swimmers.