1. Section 1.2 Your healthy, active body
Year 11
GCSE PE

2. Learning Objectives… To identify the three main somatotypes
To understand why these somatotypes are suited to specific sports
To apply this knowledge to exam questions

3. Somatotypes Somatotype means the basic shape of your body
Your somatotype can have a big effect on your suitability for a particular sport

4. Somatotypes…
Somatotypes are body types! There are three basic somatotypes… Ectomorph Mesomorph Endomorph

5. Endomorph… Wide hips but relatively narrow shoulders
A lot of fat on body, arms and legs
Ankles and wrists are relatively slim

6. Mesomorph… Wide shoulders and relatively narrow hips Muscular body
Strong arms and thighs
Not much body fat

7. Ectomorph… Narrow shoulders, hips and chest Not much muscle or fat
Long, thin arms and legs
Thin face

8. Different somatotypes…
Different somatotypes suit different sports… Have a think about each of these body types and the sports they would be suited to.
Why do you think the specific body type is suited to that sport???
Ectomorph
Endomorph
Mesomorph

9. Ectomorphs… Suit activities like high jump and long distance running
Being light and tall is an advantage in these sports
Don’t suit activities that require a lot of strength
Russian High Jumper Anna Chicherova is a very good performer. She is light so has less weight to lift over the bar. She is very tall which means she has less distance to travel to be able to get over the bar.

10. Mesomorphs… Suited to most types of activity
Able to build muscle quickly and easily
Louis Smith is a successful gymnast. He has broad shoulders which makes it easier for him to support weight. This can be an advantage in gymnastics.
Yohan Blake is a successful sprinter. He is able to build muscle easily which is suited to sprinting as strength is important.

11. Endomorphs… Suited to activities like wrestling and shot putt
Weight and low centre of mass can be an advantage
Hakuho is a sumo wrestler. Being heavy and having a low centre of gravity is an advantage as it makes it harder for your opponent to throw you around the wrestling ring.

12. Exam questions…
Which of the following performers would consider an ‘ectomorph’ somatotype to be the most appropriate body type for their activity?
Shot putter
400m runner
200m runner
High jumper

13. Exam questions…
Describe a characteristic of a mesomorph that makes it an ideal body type for 100m sprinters. (2 marks)

14. Exam questions… The performers below have the same somatotype.
Name the body type
Describe a characteristic of this body type
Give one advantage of this body type for:
The pole vaulter
The long distance runner

15. Mark scheme…

16. Learning Objectives… To identify the three main somatotypes
To understand why these somatotypes are suited to specific sports
To apply this knowledge to exam questions

17. Homework…
Choose one somatotype you have learned about today. Find a famous sportsperson who fits one of these somatotypes, and explain why they are suited to that sport or activity. Be as detailed as possible.