GROWTH AND MATURITY STATUS OF MEDAL-WINNING YOUNG TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS

Date

2023-6

Author

Ödemiş, Hasan

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The purpose of the study was to determine the growth and maturity status of young medal-winning table tennis players and to compare them with their non-medal-winning counterparts. A sample of 117 (57 males aged 12.87 ± 1.35 years, and 60 females aged 12.99 ± 1.24 years) competitive players was assessed for standing height, sitting height, and body mass. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing weight (kg) by the squared height (m), and growth status was determined using a reference database. Utilizing age at peak height velocity (APHV) and maturity offset, somatic maturity status was estimated. The difference between the APHV and chronological age was computed to determine the value of maturity offset. Results showed that mean height, body mass, and BMI percentiles for both genders were above the 37th percentile compared to normative references. Boys were significantly taller with higher height z-scores, while girls were more advanced in maturation and reached peak height velocity earlier. There were no significant differences between medal-winning and non-medal-winning players in both genders in terms of growth and maturation. Coaches should monitor the growth and maturity status of the players and adapt training strategies by taking into account the physical characteristics of the players. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of talent identification, physical development, and their relationships to performance in youth table tennis.

Subject Keywords

racket sports, talent identification, youth athletes, biological maturation, physical growth

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/104461

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis