Bale, P., Mayhew, J. L., Piper, F. C., Ball, T. E., & Willman, M. K. (1992). Biological and performance variables in relation to age in male and female adolescent athletes. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 32, 142-148.

Adolescent (M = 103, F = 65) athletes between the ages of 13 and 18 were measured for motor performance and anthropometric variables. The following were found.

• Boys were significantly different in all measures except endomorphy (fatness).
• Girls were superior in flexibility.
• Physical maturation, as reflected by height and body mass, was a major contributor to increases in motor performance.
• Somatotype did not differ greatly across age groups.
• Boys were significantly more mesomorphic (muscular) than girls.
• Girls were significantly more ectomorphic (thinness) than boys.
• Higher percent body fat and endomorphy were significantly related to poorer performance for relative aerobic capacity, 40-yd dash, and agility in boys but only for upper body muscular endurance in girls.
• Mesomorphy had higher relationships with performance variables among boys than among girls.

It was concluded that growth contributed significantly to enhanced motor performance with age but its effects may be different in boys than in girls.

Implication. In adolescence, the physical factors that affect performance are mostly related to age but differ between males and females. It would be appropriate to plan and justify training programs for adolescents on the basis of gender-specific decisions.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.