Factor analysis of anthropometric characteristics in young tennis players

A.Dimitrova, L. Petrov, I. Ivanova-Pandourska

Abstract: The main goal of each athlete is to achieve optimal performance. There are varieties of factors that have been indicated to have a positive impact on sports success. The aim of the present study is to show the factor structure of anthropometric characteristics in adolescent tennis players. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted (Varimax method) on 42 anthropometric variables measured on 152 male and 148 female tennis athletes, aged 8-17 years. All tennis players (TP) included in the study have been training tennis for 2 years, not less than 3 times weekly, and voluntarily participate in the present study. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed by software SPSS 16.00. The factor structure of the anthropometric characteristic in 8-17 years old tennis players showed similar results in both sexes in terms of the total explained variance (79.091% in boys and 79.884% in girls). The two-factor and five-factor orthogonal structures were found to describe male and female groups, respectively. The conducted factor analysis of the anthropometric characteristic in adolescent tennis players allows optimizing the system for sports selection and training. The morphological parameters with the highest weight of the factor are most strongly influenced by sports activity.

Series on Biomechanics, Vol.35 No.3 (2021), 62- 68

Keywords: adolescent; anthropometric characteristic; Factor analysis; tennis players

Date published: 2021-10-26