Examine the effects of anthropometric characteristics on children's swimming performance

This study was conducted to examine the effects of anthropometric characteristics on children's swimming performance. The sample group in the study consisted of 20 licensed athletes (10 girls and 10 boys) who continued their regular training 3 days a week at the swimming pool of Bingöl Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate. The average age of female athletes was 11.1±0.87 years, and the average height (H) and body weight (BW) were 1.43±0.05 m and 41.10±4.07 kg, respectively. The average age of male athletes was found to be 10.9±0.99 years, and the averages of BU and VA were 1.38±0.06 m and 36.30±4.64 kg, respectively. In the study, anthropometric measurements of the athletes (Arm Length (AL), Fathom Length (FaL), Hand Length (HL), Hand Width (HW), Leg Length (LL), Foot Length (FoL), Foot Width (FW), Shoulder Width ( SW), Waist Circumference (WC)) and its relationship with swimming performance values of two different swimming styles (25 meters Freestyle Swimming (25 m FSS) and 25 meters Backstroke Swimming (25 m BSS)) were analyzed. SPSS package program was used to evaluate the data. The normality distributions of the data obtained were examined with the Shapiro-Wilk Test. In statistical analysis, minimum and maximum, arithmetic mean and standard deviation values were found. The relationship between the athletes' 25 m swimming performance values and selected anthropometric measurements was carried out with the Pearson correlation test. Pairwise comparisons between male and female athletes were calculated using the Independent Samples t Test. Data significance level was evaluated as p<0.05 and p<0.01. Among the female swimmers participating in our study, high negative significant relationships were detected between 25 FSS and AL and WC (p<0.01), and moderate negative significant relationships were detected between 25 FSS and FaL, HL and LL (p<0.05). In male swimmers, moderate negative significant relationships were detected between 25 FSS and AL, FaL and WC (p<0.05). In the study, highly negative significant relationships were detected between 25 BSS and AL, FL and WC in female swimmers (p<0.01). In male swimmers, a high negative relationship was found between 25 BSS and AL, FaL and WC (p<0.01) a moderate negative relationship was found between 25 BSS and WC (p<0.05). In conclusion; We can say that AL, FaL and WC values positively affect the 25 m SSY and 25 m SUY performance values. Key Words: Child, Anthropometry, Freestyle Swimming, Backstroke Swimming