Physical Fitness Performance Comparison based on Body Mass Index between Individual Sports and Team Sports Athletes

Abstract

Individual sports and team sports have their own characteristic and require specific fitness level and optimum anthropometry component such as body composition to be fit in the sports. The purpose of this study to differentiate the physical fitness performance based on BMI of individual sport and team sport athletes. A total of 147 Terengganu junior male athletes aged 13 to 21 who are participate in the Malaysian Games participated different types of individual and team sports.  BMI was distributed according to World Health Organization (WHO) standard as < 18.5 kg/m2 under-weight, 18.5– 24.9 kg/m2 normal weight, 25–29.9 kg/m2 over weight and >3 0 kg/m2 obesity. Tests were used in this study is Sit and Reach (flexibility), Sit Up (upper muscle endurance), Maximum Push Up (upper muscular strength), Handgrip (handgrip strength), Predicted VO₂max (cardiovascular), Standing Medicine ball Throw (upper body strength), 20 meter Sprint Test (speed), Vertical Jump (leg power), Stork Stand (balance), Standing Broad Jump (leg explosive power), and T test (agility). Result showing all test except sit up test and stork stand test have a significant difference between type of sport and the athlete’s respectively BMI class. For summary, each type of sports with representative BMI class have their own specialities in physical fitness performance. More studies are needed to understand the complexity of this topic especially focusing on the recognize the specificity requirement of physical fitness on different type of sport and BMI class.