TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sammoud, Senda
A1  - Nevill, Alan Michael
A1  - Negra, Yassine
A1  - Bouguezzi, Raja
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Hachana, Younés
T1  - Key somatic variables in young backstroke swimmers
JF  - Journal of sports sciences
N2  - The purpose of this study was to estimate the optimal body size, limb-segment length, girth or breadth ratios for 100-m backstroke mean speed performance in young swimmers. Sixty-three young swimmers (boys [n = 30; age: 13.98 ± 0.58 years]; girls [n = 33; age: 13.02 ± 1.20 years]) participated in this study. To identify the optimal body size and body composition components associated with 100-m backstroke speed performance, we adopted a multiplicative allometric log-linear regression model, which was refined using backward elimination. The multiplicative allometric model exploring the association between 100-m backstroke mean speed performance and the different somatic measurements estimated that biological age, sitting height, leg length for the lower-limbs, and two girths (forearm and arm relaxed girth) are the key predictors. Stature and body mass did not contribute to the model, suggesting that the advantage of longer levers was limb-specific rather than a general whole-body advantage. In fact, it is only by adopting multiplicative allometric models that the abovementioned ratios could have been derived. These findings highlighted the importance of considering somatic characteristics of young backstroke swimmers and can help swimming coaches to classify their swimmers and enable them to suggest what might be the swimmers’ most appropriate stroke (talent identification).
KW  - Allometric models
KW  - anthropometric measures
KW  - backstroke swimming
KW  - gender
KW  - talent identification
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1546547
SN  - 0264-0414
SN  - 1466-447X
VL  - 37
IS  - 10
SP  - 1162
EP  - 1167
PB  - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
CY  - Abingdon
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sammoud, Senda
A1  - Nevill, Alan Michael
A1  - Negra, Yassine
A1  - Bouguezzi, Raja
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Hachana, Younes
T1  - 100-m Breaststroke Swimming Performance in Youth Swimmers
BT  - the predictive value of anthropometrics
JF  - Pediatric exercise science
N2  - This study aimed to estimate the optimal body size, limb segment length, and girth or breadth ratios of 100-m breaststroke performance in youth swimmers. In total, 59 swimmers [male: n= 39, age = 11.5 (1.3) y; female: n= 20, age = 12.0 (1.0) y] participated in this study. To identify size/shape characteristics associated with 100-m breaststroke swimming performance, we computed a multiplicative allometric log-linear regression model, which was refined using backward elimination. Results showed that the 100-m breaststroke performance revealed a significant negative association with fat mass and a significant positive association with the segment length ratio (arm ratio = hand length/forearm length) and limb girth ratio (girth ratio = forearm girth/wrist girth). In addition, leg length, biacromial breadth, and biiliocristal breadth revealed significant positive associations with the 100-m breaststroke performance. However, height and body mass did not contribute to the model, suggesting that the advantage of longer levers was limb-specific rather than a general whole-body advantage. In fact, it is only by adopting multiplicative allometric models that the previously mentioned ratios could have been derived. These results highlighted the importance of considering anthropometric characteristics of youth breaststroke swimmers for talent identification and/or athlete monitoring purposes. In addition, these findings may assist orienting swimmers to the appropriate stroke based on their anthropometric characteristics.
KW  - allometric model
KW  - maturity
KW  - limb lengths
KW  - girths and breadths
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2017-0220
SN  - 0899-8493
SN  - 1543-2920
VL  - 30
IS  - 3
SP  - 393
EP  - 401
PB  - Human Kinetics Publ.
CY  - Champaign
ER  -