The Association between Anthropometric Variables, Functional Movement Screen Scores and 100 m Freestyle Swimming Performance in Youth Swimmers

Daisy Bond,Michael Duncan,Laura Goodson,Samuel Oxford,Alan Nevill

doi:10.3390/sports3010001

Daisy Bond, Michael Duncan + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/sports3010001

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Journal: Sports	Publication Date: Jan 8, 2015
Citations: 43	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Coventry University, University of Wolverhampton

Abstract

This study examined the association between anthropometric variables, Functional Movement Screen (FMS) scores and 100 m freestyle swimming performance in early adolescent swimmers. Fifty competitive, national level, youth swimmers (21 males, 29 females, mean age ± SD = 13.5 ± 1.5 years, age range 11–16 years) performed an “all-out” 100 m freestyle (front crawl) swim as fast as they could in a 50 m pool. A median divide for 100 m timed swim was also used to divide the sample into faster or slower groups. Height, body mass, skinfolds and limb lengths were also assessed. Maturation was calculated by proxy using anthropometric measures and participants also undertook the FMS as a measure of functional performance. Backwards linear regression indicated a significant model (p = 0.0001, Adjusted R2 = 0.638) explaining 63.8% of the variance in swim performance with total sum of skinfolds, upper leg length, lower leg length, hand length and total height significantly contributing to the model. Swimmers who were classed as fast had lower total sum of skinfolds (p = 0.005) and higher total FMS score (p = 0.005) compared to their slower peers. In summary, this study indicates that anthropometric variables significantly explained the variance in 100 m freestyle swimming performance in youth swimmers.

Highlights

Understanding the physical and anthropometric factors that underpin performance in the sport of swimming is important in relation to talent development and targeting training programs effectively [1].The use of anthropometry and physical testing is prevalent in many talent identification and talent development programmes including those of the Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA) [2].As such examining the impact of anthropometric variables on swimming performance in pediatric swimmers is of interest to scientists and coaches alike
The aim of this study was to examine the association between anthropometric variables, functional movement screen scores and 100 m freestyle swimming performance in trained adolescent swimmers
Backwards linear regression indicated a significant model (F 5.49 = 18.3, p = 0.0001, Adjusted R2 = 0.638) explaining 63.8% of the variance in swim performance with total sum of skinfolds (β = 0.041, p = 0.05), upper leg length (β = 0.428, p = 0.005), lower leg length (β = 0.858, p = 0.001), hand length (β = −1.709, p = 0.0001), and total height (β = −0.67, p = 0.0001), significantly contributing to the model

Summary

Introduction

The use of anthropometry and physical testing is prevalent in many talent identification and talent development programmes including those of the Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA) [2]. As such examining the impact of anthropometric variables on swimming performance in pediatric swimmers is of interest to scientists and coaches alike. Geladas et al [7] reported that 100 m freestyle swimming performance was best predicted by a combination of anthropometric and physical tests (r = −0.22 to −0.31) in a sample of 263, 12–14 year old swimmers. There is a need to better understand how these factors might influence swimming performance in adolescent swimmers

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