Anthropometric And Physiological Profiles Of Varsity Sepak Takraw Players

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1 Available online at GlobalIlluminators Full Paper Proceeding ITMAR-2014, Vol. 1, FULL PAPER PROCEEDING Multidisciplinary Studies ISBN: ITMAR-14 Anthropometric And Physiological Profiles Of Varsity Sepak Takraw Players Norlizah Abdul Hamid 1*, Abd Muzaffar Babjan 2, Nagoor Meera Abdullah 3, Sarimah Ismail 4 Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation,Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia Abstract The main purpose of this study was to determine the physiological profile of UiTM sepak takraw players that included muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, flexibility, power and agility. The participants (n=12) mean age was ± 2.3 years old, mean height was ± 6.8 cm, mean body weight was ± 10.6 kg and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.7 ± 2.32 kg.m -2. The participants underwent an indirect 1RM test for muscular strength, 1-minute sit-up for muscular endurance, sit and reach test for flexibility, bioelectrical impedance analysis test for body composition, vertical jump test for muscular power and side-step for agility. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the anthropometric data and the measurement of the six (6) physiological parameters of the subjects. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the significant differences among the positions on muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, flexibility, power and agility. The results indicated that the spikers were better than the feeders and the killers in all of the six (6) physiological parameters and body composition as well. However, no significant difference was found in muscular endurance, body composition, flexibility, agility and power. In conclusion, the spikers were physiologically better in all of the components than the other two positions 2014 The Authors. Published by Global Illuminators.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific & Review committee of ITMAR Keywords: Sepak Takraw, Spikers, Feeder, Spiker, Physiological Parameters Introduction Sepak takraw has become one of the fastest growing games in Asia and has spread to over 20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Korea, Germany, England, India, Japan, Puerto Rico, Spain, and the USA. It was introduced in the 10th Asian Games in Beijing in 1990, and demonstrated in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. The game is played on an area the size of a doubles badminton court, with three players on each side of a 1.52 m high net (fig 1). A team consists of three players: feeder, spikers/server, and spiker/killer. Sepak takraw is a powerful high impact team sport games where it requires the player to be physically fit, strong and masterful in technique especially of lower body parts. Sepak takraw requires the player to master a variety of performance skills like jumping, blocking, diving or spiking that are related to the needs of strength power, agility and speed during the duration of the game. According to Donald Gilliland (2004), it does require quick reflexes, coordination, agility and technique. Thick skin is also helpful since a skillfully kicked takraw *All correspondence related to this article should be directed to Norlizah Abdul Hamid Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia norli144@salam.uitm.edu.my 2015 The Authors. Published by Global Illuminators. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific & Review committee of ITMAR-2015.

2 ball can travel at speeds of over 60 mph. Like badminton, squash, and tennis, the intensity of the game is intermittent, depending on the length of rallies following a serve. The present study emphasizes on the importance to have a good health-related fitness of muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, anthropometric, and skill-related fitness such as agility, power and speed. A comparison of physiological profile between playing positions were as also studied. A number of studies indicated that physiological profiles of athletes differ between sports and playing positions (Michele R. Steinhagen, Micheal C. Meyers, Howard H. Erickson, Larry Nobel, and Melanie T. Richardson, 1998). The objective of this study was to investigate and determine the physiological profile of UiTM sepak taraw players that included anthropometric measurement, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, agility, muscular power and speed. This study is also investigating whether there was any significant difference in any of the physiological components among the playing positions in sepak takraw. Literature review Despite its increasing popularity, to date only two papers has been published on the physical and physiological profiles of sepak takraw players. A study by Jawis 2005, presents some information on the physical and physiological profiles of the players at the National Sepak Takraw Grand Prix 2002 Championship where the players were the top sepak takraw players in the country and some were in the national squad. The under 23 players were significantly taller and heavier with significantltly better range of motion (ROM) of the neck, trunk, and ankle joints and back and leg strength than the Under 15 players. No significant difference was found in percent body fat between the three age categories. Another study by Aziz, (2003), on the heart rate response, lactate response and physiological profiles of elite sepak takraw players. These data suggested a dominant involvement of the anaerobic energy systems in sepak takraw, in particular the alactic energy system. The mean HR of ~153 beats-min -1 indicated that the intensity of sepak takraw matchplay was moderate. National-level players (N = 22) were assessed for anthropometry, maximal oxygen uptake, anaerobic power and work capacity for 10 and 30 s, and vertical jump. There were no significant differences between the three positional roles (i.e. spikers, feeders and servers) in all the measures, except for height. Relative to elite athletes of other intermittent sports, the sepak takraw player possessed excellent jumping power and ability to perform high-intensity anaerobic work, but lower aerobic fitness. The players' fitness attributes concurred well with their physiological responses. Anthropometric measurement was determined using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) known to be reliable to estimate total fat content in this study by body resistance, body mass and height. Muscular strength is the main component required in sepak takraw, especially in kicking, jumping and blocking and as injury prevention as well. The dynamic leg strength was measured by the indirect 1RM test of leg press. Muscular endurance is the ability of the muscles to sustain repeated muscle actions or a single static action (Willmore, 1994). One-minute sit-up test was used to measure abdominal strength of the players. The sit and reach test was used as a standard measure of flexibility and in sepak takraw it is important to have good flexibility ie to have good range of motion of the musculoskeletal joints and improved performance as well. Agility, leg power and action speed can effectively 273

3 measured using the sidestep test (North Carolina Fitness Battery, 1997). It is a measure of directional agility, speed and body control that evaluate the ability to change direction rapidly while maintaining balance without lose of speed. Vertical jump requires high levels of explosive muscular power. According to David K. Miller (2002), although power is not considered as essential component of physical fitness or good health, it is often the characteristic of a good athlete. Zandwijk et. al (2000), stated that vertical jump are explosive movements characterized by short execution time and are aimed at giving high velocity to a part of the body. Vertical jumping is an important fundamental ability for sepak takraw players, especially for the spikers. The spikers and feeders are required to jump high to either spike and/or block spikes. Aziz (2003) used the Sargeant vertical jump test (with a counter movement arm-swinging action), via the chalkedfinger method, best of three attempts, was used to measure the athlete's jumping ability. Methodology This research applied the convenience non-random sampling method in selecting the participants for the study and was limited to volunteered sepak takraw players of UiTM. 12 players (4 spikers, 4 feeders and 4 killers) with estimated age between 23 to 24 years old participated in this study. They were the university s sepak takraw players, with a frequency of 4-5 times per week physical training. The players were gathered and briefed on the purpose of the study and procedure of the tests. Nevertheless, they were also required to fill up the consent letter. The players were also required to do proper warm up and stretching prior to the conduct of the test. The anthropometric analyses included age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and fat-free mass. Vertical jump power was obtained by multiplying the distance jumped by body mass. The scores of all three jumps were recorded and best of the three jumps was taken as the measure of the jump. The results were tabulated and presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for independent measurements was used to compare whether there was any significant difference between the playing positions. A p<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance for all measurements. Results Table 1 shows the values of mean and standard deviations for the players where the mean age was year ± 2.31, mean height and weight was 1.67 m ± 6.8 and kg ± 10.6 respectively. The mean body mass index was kg. m -2 ± 2.32 that indicated the participants fall under the category of normal to overweight. Mean fat percentage was % ±

4 Table 1 Demographic and anthropometric data of all players. Mean Std. Deviation Age (years) Height (m) Weight (kg) BMI (kg.mˉ²) Fat mass (kg) Fat percentage (%) Fat-free mass (kg) Table 2 Physiological variables of all players. Physiological variables Mean Std. Deviation 1 minute sit-up (reps.min -1 ) Relative leg strength (kg.m) Sit and reach Side step (reps.min -1 ) Vertical jump (kgm.s -1 ) Table 2 shows the values of mean and standard deviations for the participants physiological data. The mean 1-minutesit-up was ± 8.2 reps.min -1. The mean relative strength was 3.10 ± 0.2 kg.m, sit and reach of ± 5.3 cm, whilst side stepping was ± 1.2 mmhg. As for the vertical jump, the mean was ± 13.0 kgm.s

5 Table 3 Level of physiological fitness among positions (spikers, feeder, spiker) Physiological variables Spikers Feede r Killer 1 minute sit-up (reps.min -1 ) ± ± ± Relative leg strength (kg.m) 3.34 ± ± ± 0.27 Sit and reach Side step (reps.min -1 ) Vertical jump (kgm.s - ) ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± 9.61 Table 3 indicated that the spikers were better than the feeders and the spikers in all of the six (6) physiological parameters and body composition. Table 4 ANOVA values among spikers, feeders and spikers. Physiological variables Sig. values*(p<0.05) 1 minute sit-up (reps.min -1 ) 0.07 Relative leg strength (kg.m) 0.049* Sit and reach 0.86 Side step (reps.min -1 ) Vertical jump (kgm.s -1 ) Table 4 shows significant values from ANOVA analysis of the variables between playing positions. Only leg strength shows significant difference at p value < 0.05, while others did not. 276

6 Discussions Study by Jawis (2004) showed that the mean height, body weight, and cardiopulmonary capacities of the players were within the Malaysian population norms, but were somewhat lower than those of players of other court games from other countries. % body fat was in the normal range in these players. There were no data from Malaysian players of other but similar court games and therefore comparison is difficult. However, when compared to players of court games from other countries, it was found that the height of the Malaysian sepak takraw players was lower than that reported in Indian and Chinese badminton players and English squash players. The exact significance of height to performance in sepak takraw remains unclear, as there is no information in the literature correlating height with performance in this sport. Having the correct body weight and body composition is important for athletes. Optimal body size and composition characteristics vary from sport to sport depending on the physical demands of the sport. The body weights of all the sepak takraw players were within Malaysian population norms. When compared to body weights of players from other sports, the mean weight of the players was found to be lower than that of Italian and Indian badminton players. Data describing the physiological characteristics and capabilities of elite players may reflect the demands of the game (Reilly et al., 1990). Table 3 showed that servers were the tallest among the three positions. This is probably due to natural selection. Servers with longer lower limbs are able to contact the ball at a higher point in mid-air and direct it downward in a sharper trajectory. Nevertheless, the sepak takraw players in this study appear to have higher BMI and % body fat compared to the elite Malaysian players as in study by Jawis, The reason for these differences may reflect the level of training and experience that may not gotten by the varsity s players. Body fat of between 8 and 12% of body weight may be required for top level performance in sepak takraw. More studies are clearly needed to correlate % body fat with performance. Similarly, a height of m, which was similar to that reported by Aziz (2003), could also be considered an appropriate height for sepak takraw players. More studies correlating body weight, height, and body composition to performance are required to confirm these assumptions. Vertical jumping is an important fundamental ability for sepaktakraw players, especially for the spikers. The spikers and feeders are required to jump high to either spike and/or block spikes. These require lower limbs movements that are both powerful and explosive. Indeed, the sepaktakraw players have excellent lower limb jumping ability in comparison with many other intermittent sports athletes (Gore, 2000; Reilly et al., 2000). The degree of explosive power of the sepak takraw players determined by performance in the standing vertical jump was lower compared to basketball players (169.0 kg m 1 ). 277

7 No statistically significant difference in all variables except leg strength was evident between the three groups (table 4). Conclusion The results indicated that the spikers were better than the feeders and the killers in all of the six (6) physiological parameters and body composition. There was significant difference only in leg strength. No significant differences were found in other variables. Findings can be used to assist coaches and conditioning trainers to assess players ability, diagnose specific weaknesses, and prescribe individualized training programme. Other physiological, musculoskeletal and psychological responses could also be explored. Acknowledgement We would like to thank the Universiti Teknologi MARA, the Facultyof Sports Science and Recreation and the respective sepak takraw players of UiTM participated in this study. References Adams G.M Exercise Physiology: Laboratory Manual. 7 th Edition, McGraw Hill (2006) Andino Maselen, Hasan, Md. M. Fuzzy Logic Based Analysis of the Sepak Takraw Games Ball Kicking(2012) with the Respect of Player Arrangement. World Applied Programming, Vol (2), Issue (5), Aziz AR,( 2003) Eikman Teo, Tan B, et al. Sepaktakraw: a descriptive analysis of heart rate and blood lactate response and physiological profile of elite players. Int J Applied Sports Sciences;15:1 10. Baker, D(2001.). A series of studies on the training of high intensity muscle power in rugby league football players. Journal oof strength & conditioning. Res. (15 (2): Bompa, t. O. (1999). Periodization: theoryand methodology of training. 4 th edition. USA: Human Kinetics. Eckerson, J. M., Stout, J. R., Evetovic, T. K., Housh, T. K., Johnson, G. O., Worrel, N. (1998.)Validity of Self-assessment techniquesfor estimating percent body fatin men and women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning. Res. 12(4): Gore, C. (2000). Physiological Testing for Elite Athletes. Champaign Illinois: Human Kinetics. Jawis, M. N., Singh, R., Singh, H. J., Yassin, M. N(2004). Anthropometric and physiological profiles of sepak takraw players. Br J Sports Med 2005;39: doi: /bjsm

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