Somatotypes, Anthropometric and Physical Measures Amongst Beginners of Basketball in West Bank

The purposes of this study were to determine the Somatotypes, anthropometric, and physical measures amongst beginners of basketball in West Bank. Furthermore, to determine the relationship between selected anthropometric and physical measures, and the influence of club degree variable on these measures. In addition to constructing norms of some selected anthropometric and physical measures amongst beginners of basketball in the West Bank . To achieve the previous purposes, the study was conducted on a sample of (115) players from the beginners of basketball clubs from the Premier League and first class, in the (2012-2013) sports season , the sample was selected stratified – random, and Somatotypes , selected anthropometric and physical measures were taken . The study revealed the following results : - The percent of body fat was (18.85%) and the mean of body fat mass was (13.53 kg), and the mean of fat-free-mass was (56.13) kg . - The mesomorphy-ectomorphy Somatotype was the common type amongst beginners of basketball in the West Bank (243) . - The means of arms explosive power, legs explosive power, flexibility, agility, 30m-sprint, and endurance tests were respectively: (13.02 m, 43.09 cm, 5.56 cm, 23.94 times, 5.07 seconds ,and 4.01 seconds) . -There were high significant correlation among physical and anthropometric variables for the beginners of basketball in the West Bank, where the highest correlation was between the body fat mass and the percent of body fat (0.893), also the results indicated a significant negative correlation between agility and the percent of body fat (-0.411). - Constructing norms of anthropometric measures, where the best norm for the percent of body, and fat-free-mass were respectively: (11.02 % and 71.68 kg) . - Constructing norms of physical measures, where the best norm for the arms explosive power, legs explosive power, flexibility, agility, 30m-sprint, and endurance tests were respectively (15.74 m, 54.40 cm, 13 cm, 26 time, 4.56 seconds, 3.33 seconds). Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended the following recommendations: - The coaches should be taken into account Somatotypes, anthropometric, and physical measures when selecting beginners in basketball. - Due to the significant of nutrition and its effects on body composition, the coaches must taken it into account when preparing and applying training programs. Key words: Somatotypes, Anthropometric, Physical measures, Basketball