Die relatiewe liggaamsgroottes van adolessente en volwasse Suid-Afrikaanse rugbyspelers

Abstract

With regard to the positional play in rugby football as a sport, it is unique because physique plays a very important role. Nowadays there is a great emphasis on the correct morphology of rugby players by the selectors and coaches. The problem originating, is the question whether or not adolescent - and adult rugby players can be selected on the same criteria. Since many successful rugby players has got specific physiques when playing in specific positions, one should compare an adolescent player's physique with that of an adult player in a proportional way The aim of this study has been to determine whether there is a connection between the morphology of rugby players from different age groups and different playing positions when being compared proportionally with each other. A total of 369 provincial high school players of an average age of 18.1 years, and 349 adult provincial players of an average age of 24.8 years were used as subjects for the study. A total of twenty three kinanthropometric variables were used in the comparison. The two groups were compared to each other in a proportional manner, by using the so-called "Phantom figure ." In this way an adaptation was made to accommodate body length, growth differences and differences in puberty because of age differences.

The results indicate that the players differ proportionally, even if they are in the same playing position and in spite of the compensation made for growth and age differences. The conclusion made is that the morphological models which are applicable to the adult players, can not be made applicable to the adolescent players in the same playing positions. Adolescent rugby players will therefore have to be provided with their own morphological models, which would have to be copied by using lines of regression to the different age groups.