Background and Study Aim: The physical structure is considered as one of the elements for sporting success. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of somatotype characters on selected physical performance parameters. Material and Methods: This study was included 150 males (age: 22.10±2.46 years) participants who do not have habit of regular exercise. The somatotype characters of participants were determined and physical performance tests (30 m sprint, vertical jump, anaerobic power, aerobic capacity, and flexibility) were measured as an experimental design. Results: As a result of the research, 9 different somatotype subgroups were identified. In this study, the statistically significant was found between groups in terms of explosive force, aerobic and anaerobic power output (p<0.05). We found no significant between groups in terms of flexibility (p=0.670), relative anaerobic peak (p=0.560) and mean power output (p=0.077). The results were obtained in favor of mesomorph-endomorph structure in terms of absolute peak and mean power, while mesomorph and ectomorph component contributed positively to explosive force and aerobic capacity scores.Conclusion: Our study highlighted the fact that the subgroups of somatotype have an effect on performance parameters. The body-performance relationship can be examined in detail with more participants representing each somatotype group.

The relationship between an athlete’s somatotype three-numeral rating and his or her athletic performance is well known. However, a direct effect of the different dominant somatotype on jumping and sprinting variables has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dominant somatotype on sport-specific explosive variables. One hundred and twelve physically active young adults (mean ± standard deviation age: 21.82 ± 3.18 years) were somatotype-rated using the Heath–Carter method. Participants were classified as balanced ectomorph, balanced mesomorph, central, mesomorph-endomorph, and mesomorphic ectomorph. Vertical jump and linear sprint tests were performed to measure peak lower body performance and sprint variables (time, speed, and momentum), respectively. The analysis revealed that balanced mesomorph had significantly higher vertical jump (effect size (ES) = 1.10, p = 0.005) and power to body mass (ES = 1.04, p = 0.023) than mesomorph-endomorph. In addition, balanced mesomorph showed significantly superior performance in 30-m sprint time and velocity than central and mesomorph-endomorph (ES range = 0.93–1, p < 0.05). Finally, balanced ectomorph (ES = 1.12, p = 0.009) and mesomorphic ectomorph (ES = 1.10, p = 0.017) were lower in sprint momentum compared to balanced mesomorphs. In conclusion, this study has shown the importance of the interaction between subtypes and athletic performance. The knowledge gained may be important in identifying those who tend to perform well in sports with explosive power and in prescribing training programs.

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effect of different stretching protocols on flexibility, Yo-Yo IR-1 and repeated sprint performance. The sample group of this study consists of 15 male who were doing regular exercise at least 3 years. This group performed 5 different stretching protocols on non-consecutive days. Stretching protocols were determined as follows: light jogging for only 5 minutes (NS), light jogging and static strectching (SS), light jogging and dynamic stretching (DS), light jogging and static + dynamic stretching (SDS), light jogging and dynamic + static stretching (DSS). Altough participants did not have a statistically significant effect on flexibility performance (p> 0.05), the best flexibility value was SS. Repeated sprint performance (best) values of different stretching protocols did not have statistically significant effect on repeated sprint performance (moderate, worst, decline, post fatigue index) values (p> 0.05). Repeated sprint performance was found to have a statistically significant effect on Borg values and HR mean values (p <0.05). It was found that Yo-Yo IR-1 has a statistically significant effect on BORG values, Yo-Yo IR-1 performance HR (pre) values, Yo-Yo IR-1 performance HR (middle) values and Yo-Yo IR-1 performance lactate values (p<0.05). According to the findings obtained as a result of the research; it has been observed that different stretching protocols have different effects in terms of repeated sprint, flexibility and Yo-Yo IR-1 performance parameters. Overall, these results suggest that flexibility performance may be improve after static stretching exercise.

It is known that there is a strong correlation between agility performance and match performance in terms of soccer players. Moreover, it is expressed that the agility and the linear sprint have different performance skills. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between linear sprint and change of direction performance scores and to determine the most appropriate agility test for soccer players. 16 male soccer players (age: 21.93±3.62 years, height: 175.06±3.06 cm, body mass: 69.51±7.40 kg, body mass index: 22.67±2.16 kg/m 2 , body fat ratio: 7.52±2.64 %) participated in linear sprint and agility tests. All participants completed a test battery involving linear sprinting (10, 20, 30 m), agility tests (T test, 505, Pro-agility, illinois). The 10, 20, and 30 m sprint performance were positively correlated with performance on the illinois agility test (p<0.05). Furthermore, the 20 m sprint performance were positively significant correlated (r=.571, p=.042) with performance on pro-agility test. Lastly, the 10, 20, and 30m sprint performance were positively correlated (r=.329, p=.272; r=.370, p=.214; r=.338, p=.259 respectively) with performance on T test but this correlation levels were not significance. Given these meaningless relationships, it may state that the one of the most appropriate agility tests is T test for soccer players. This study provides support for the use of T test as an agility performance test in soccer players.

The study aimed to examine hamstring-quadriceps muscle activations of the supine bridge and reverse plank exercises that are performed for both improving the overall body strength and contributing to the treatment in the process following an injury on different grounds. Methods: Ten participants (four males and six females, age=26.70±3.02 years) without regular sports habits were included in the study. Bilateral supine bridge and bilateral reverse plank exercises were practiced randomly on stable and unstable grounds. In the study, muscle activation values of vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF) and semitendinosus (SEM) muscles of the participants were examined. Along with the muscle activation that occurred during the exercise, hamstring (BF+SEM)/quadriceps (VM+VL) ratio was also determined (H:Q). Results: The lowest co-activation ratio (most balanced H:Q activation) was observed on stable ground bridge exercise (5.83±4.04), and the largest co-activation ratio (hamstring dominant activation) was observed on stable ground plank exercise (8.84±6.60). No significant difference was found between exercises at H:Q co-activation ratio (p>0.05). A statistically significant difference was found in the quadriceps and hamstring group in terms of exercise and difference ground in favor of plank (p<0.05). Conclusion: Reverse plank exercise has greater agonist muscle activation than the supine bridge. Therefore, it is thought that bridge exercise could be advised in the rehabilitation process that necessitates a high level of balance, especially in co-activation ratio. Further study with various clinical problems may direct the process.