Types of Somatotypes
Somatotype / Sum-a-ta-type
Success as an athlete comes from a combination of athletic ability and our body build. This is called Somatotype. A system, developed in the 1940s by an American psychologist named William Sheldon, associating body types with human temperament types.
There are 3 Types of Somatotypes:
1. Ectomorphic: characterized by long and thin muscles/limbs and low fat storage; usually referred to as slim. Ectomorphs are not predisposed to store fat nor build muscle.
2. Mesomorphic: characterized by medium bones, solid torso, low fat levels and wide shoulders with a narrow waist; usually referred to as muscular. Mesomorphs are predisposed to build muscle but not store fat.
3. Endomorphic: characterized by increased fat storage, a wide waist and a large bone structure usually referred to as fat, or chunky. Endomorphs are predisposed to storing fat.
Sheldon's theory says that the somatotype you have by your early 20's, when you have completed your growth, is the somatotype you inherited and you are stuck with it. Adding or losing muscle or fat is unlikely to alter a person's assessment by much more than a 10% margin of human error.
Somatotype takes the guesswork out of self-knowledge. If you don’t know your somatotype you will never understand your personality or the personality of others. Without a knowledge of somatotype you won’t be able to understand the adaptations you have made in life. This has application to any field where you need to understand what makes people tick.
Ectomorphs would be a typical long distance runner, tennis player, afl player, high jumper, long jumper, runner or basketball player. Generally, ectomorphs rank high on endurance, flexibility and agility.
Mesomorphs would generally make a good swimmer, weightlifter, Boxer, football player, rower, shot putter or sprinter because they tend to be more muscular. Generally, mesomorphs rank high on strength, speed, endurance, power and agility.
Endomorphs are
Success as an athlete comes from a combination of athletic ability and our body build. This is called Somatotype. A system, developed in the 1940s by an American psychologist named William Sheldon, associating body types with human temperament types.
There are 3 Types of Somatotypes:
1. Ectomorphic: characterized by long and thin muscles/limbs and low fat storage; usually referred to as slim. Ectomorphs are not predisposed to store fat nor build muscle.
2. Mesomorphic: characterized by medium bones, solid torso, low fat levels and wide shoulders with a narrow waist; usually referred to as muscular. Mesomorphs are predisposed to build muscle but not store fat.
3. Endomorphic: characterized by increased fat storage, a wide waist and a large bone structure usually referred to as fat, or chunky. Endomorphs are predisposed to storing fat.
Sheldon's theory says that the somatotype you have by your early 20's, when you have completed your growth, is the somatotype you inherited and you are stuck with it. Adding or losing muscle or fat is unlikely to alter a person's assessment by much more than a 10% margin of human error.
Somatotype takes the guesswork out of self-knowledge. If you don’t know your somatotype you will never understand your personality or the personality of others. Without a knowledge of somatotype you won’t be able to understand the adaptations you have made in life. This has application to any field where you need to understand what makes people tick.
Ectomorphs would be a typical long distance runner, tennis player, afl player, high jumper, long jumper, runner or basketball player. Generally, ectomorphs rank high on endurance, flexibility and agility.
Mesomorphs would generally make a good swimmer, weightlifter, Boxer, football player, rower, shot putter or sprinter because they tend to be more muscular. Generally, mesomorphs rank high on strength, speed, endurance, power and agility.
Endomorphs are