THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS PARAMETERS OF FIGURE SKATING ATHLETES

: In order to monitor training effects and physical developments in elite sports, it may be beneficial to perform anthropometric measurements and physical fitness tests regularly. In this study, the relationship between the anthropometric properties and physical fitness values of elite figure skating athletes were investigated. 21 elite athletes in the 11-16 age group, female (n=12) and male (n=9), participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements were taken in accordance with The International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol. Σ6 and Σ8 skinfold thickness, body fat ratio (BF%), body mass index (BMI), Manouvrier Index (MI), waist/hip ratio and somatotype components in girls Group II, III and in boys Group II were calculated. Also, balance, flexibility, handgrip strength, vertical jump, agility, medicine ball overhead back throw, speed, and endurance tests were applied to all groups. Descriptive statistical analyzes were made using the IBM SPSS 25.0 statistics program. The relationship between variables was calculated by the Pearson Correlation coefficient. The significance level was taken as p<0.01 and p<0.05. In boys, body weight, body height and arm span, sitting height, BMI, humerus breadth and foot length were observed to be associated with all physical fitness parameters (p<0.01, p<0.05), except balance and agility; Girth


Introduction
Elite sports performance is a result of the interaction between genetic structure and training factors. Accordingly, management systems that facilitate both talent determination and optimal training are very important in sportive success (Tucker, & Collins, 2012).
Figure skating is a technical and aesthetic sport applied in different age categories, levels, and disciplines (singles, pairs, ice dance with different body difficulties, synchronized), accompanied by music (Kutlay, & Güner, 2018). As it is one of the early specialized sports (American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 2000); monitoring training effects and physical developments, performing and evaluating anthropometric measurements and physical fitness tests regularly in and out of the group comparisons may be useful for performance monitoring.
Physical morphology or physical structure, body weight or composition, body size, and shape are important to optimize performance in many sports (Slater, O'Connor, & Kerr, 2018;Durakovic, 2012). Body height and body weight have been demonstrated to affect performance in rotational movements (Ackland, Elliott, & Richards, 2003). The physical size of the body can have biomechanical effects in the figure skating; acceleration, stopping, tossing, skidding, lifting, rotating, etc. In order to make a good impression on the spectators, physical appearance is also considered to be important. In this sport, studies are also showing nutritional disorder behaviors for bodyweight control (Dwyer, Eisenberg, Prelack, Song, Sonneville, & Ziegler, 2012;Voelker, Gould, & Reel, 2014).
Physical fitness gives a measure of the body's ability to exercise, and exercise is an important indicator of health (Ortega, Ruiz, Castillo, & Sjostrom, 2008;Armstrong, Tomkinson, & Ekelund, 2011). In addition to different standard tests, Eurofit tests are used to assess the physical fitness of children and adolescents (Kemper, & Van Mechelen, 1996;Council of Europe, 1988). However, it is also important that the tests used are distinctive and specific to sports. contracted), waist (WG), gluteal (GG) (hip) and calf (CG) girths were measured with a steel anthropometric tape (Cescorf Brasil, 0.1 cm distinction). The breadths of Humeral (HB) and Femoral (FB) were measured with a small caliper and foot length was measured with a large caliper (Holtain Ltd., UK). Measurements were performed at the right side of the body.
Physical fitness tests were performed on all groups on the same day after a mild warm-up (15 min -cardiovascular exercises and stretching). Flamingo balance, sit and reach, and handgrip strength tests were performed with the Eurofit test battery protocol (Council of Europe, 1988). For the flamingo test, both feet (on one foot flamingo board, the other foot bent at the knee and holding the ankle with the hand on the same side), the number of falls within a minute was evaluated (n / the 60s), trunk and hamstring flexibility were assessed using the sit and reach test to the nearest 0.5 cm (the best result from two measurements was evaluated) and the handgrip strength test were measured with the hand dynamometer (1 kg precision, Baseline), both hands were measured twice and the best result was evaluated.
Vertical jump was performed with the Opto Jump Test Protocol (0,1 cm precision) (OptoJump, 2020) and the best out of three measurements were evaluated; agility test was applied with Pro Agility Test Protocol (5-10-5 shuttles) (Harman, Garhammer, & Pandorf, 2000) and the better of two measurements were evaluated; the 20 m sprint test was measured 2 times with a 2-minutes intervals, starting from 50 cm behind the start line and starting from the standing position. The photocell stopwatch with a sensitivity of 1/100 sec was used in the measurements and the best result was evaluated. Microgate-Witty (Italy) devices were used in the tests.
In throwing medicine ball backward test, three shots were applied and the best result was evaluated (for 9-11 years old girl-boy 1 kg, for 12-14 years old girls and boys 2 kg, for 15-16 years old girls and boys 2 kg for 15 and older boys 3 kg medicine ball was used).
The 20 m endurance shuttle run test was done according to the Shuttle Run Beep Test protocol. The test started with a speed of 8.5km/h, continued with an increase of 0.5km/h every minute, and the test was terminated when the participant missed three consecutive signal sounds. The shuttle numbers reached at the end of the test were evaluated (Léger, Mercier, Gadoury, & Lambert, 1988;Topendsports, 2019 according to the total shuttle numbers, maximum oxygen utilization capacity (VO2max) values were calculated indirectly (Ramsbottom, Brewer, & Williams, 1988).

Statistical Analysis
Descriptive statistical analyzes were made using the IBM SPSS 25.0 statistics program. The relationship between variables was calculated with the Pearson Correlation coefficient (r). The significance level was taken as p<0.01 and p<0.05.  The physical features of the athletes participating in the research are given in Table  1 and the physical fitness values are given in Table 2.  In boys, body weight, body height and arm span, sitting height, BMI, humerus diameter, and foot length are associated with all physical fitness parameters except balance and agility. Girth measurements were related to handgrip strength, vertical jump, Backward Throwing Medicine Ball, sprint and endurance (p<0.01, p<0.05), and the endomorphic feature were found to have significant negative relationships (p<0.05) with flexibility and endurance (Table 3).  In girls, body weight, body height, and arm span, sitting height and BMI were found to be related to flexibility, handgrip strength and backward throwing medicine ball; girth measurements were found to be related to flexibility, handgrip strength, vertical jump, backward throwing medicine ball; and breadths measurements were found to be related to handgrip strength (p<0.01, p<0.05) ( Table 4).   specific reference values. In studies conducted in this sport with standard tests (Slater, et al., 2016;Mostaert, Deconinck, Pion, & Lenoir, 2016;Bower, Kraemer, Potteiger, Volek, Hatfield, Vingren, Spiering, Fragala, Ho, Thomas, Earp, Häkkinen, & Maresh, 2010), Eurofit test battery and sports-specific tests were used. In a comprehensive study conducted in different disciplines (singles, pairs, ice dance, synchronized) and levels (novice, junior and senior) (10-33 years old, N=347) (Slater, et al., 2016); hexagon test, t-test, maximal vertical jump test, alternating triple bound jump, tuck jumps, push-ups, v-ups, hand press, front split, flexibility (sit and reach) and balance (stork pose) tests were performed.

Results
In another study conducted on elite figure skaters (9-12 years old girls, N=11) (Mostaert, et al., 2016); sit and reach and shoulder rotation flexibility, handgrip strength, maximum counter-movement jump, standing long jump, 10x5m running, 30m sprint, body coordination test (Körperkoordinationstest für kinder) and sports-specific tests; front and side split flexibility and spin jump (jump height, rotation speed) tests were performed. When compared with the tests and age group (Group I) matching our study; body weight, body height, sitting height mean values were compatible, flexibility and vertical jump values were better in our athletes, and handgrip strength values are lower. The reason why vertical jump values are better in those who participated in our study may be due to the fact that we used arm swing during the test. In the same study (Mostaert, et al., 2016), BF % values could not be compared with our data since it was determined by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis method.
In addition, according to the European normative values (non-athletes) aged 9-17 (Tomkinson, Carver, Atkinson, Daniell, Lewis, Fitzgerald, Lang, & Ortega, 2018), it was observed that the balance and flexibility test values (in the groups of girls and boys) in the 90th and 95th percentiles (better) and the values of handgrip strength were close to the average values (40th and 50th percentiles).
When the values of the figure skating athletes participating in this study and the non-athlete Turkish population values (Neyzi, Günöz, Furman, Bundak, Gökçay, Darendeli, & Baş) were compared to the values in the 25th and 50th percentiles of body weight values, and the 50th percentile of their body height, BMI was found to be close to the 25th percentile. Another study found that, figure skating athletes were shorter than healthy reference population values and had a lower body weight and body fat ratio (Mostaert, et al., 2016). The waist girths of our athletes were found to be lower than the study data (at matched ages) in the non-athlete Turkish population (Hatipoğlu, Öztürk, Mazıcıoğlu, Kurtoğlu, Seyhan, & Lokoğlu, 2008). In a study on arm span (Mazıcıoğlu, Hatipoğlu, Öztürk, Gün, Üstünbaş, & Kurtoğlu, 2009), the mean values found in the ages matching our study are generally consistent, but in Group III for girls and in boys Group II are slightly different. Different growth rate stages and training features or different measurement methods can create these differences.
When compared with the matching data of another study (11 age n=112 girls and n=344 boys; 12 age n=85 girls and n=251 boys) (Haslofça, Kutlay, & Haslofça, 2017)  strength of the participants in our study were found to be similar, and it was observed that body weight, BMI, skinfold thickness values were lower, and vertical jump and flamingo test values were better. In this study, agility test mean values were found as 5.66±0.2 sec in Group I for girls, 5.47±0.1 sec in Group II and 5.63±0.1 sec in Group III; and 5.38±0.3 sec in Group I for boys and 5.12±0.3 sec in Group II. When the same agility test values are examined in studies conducted in different sports branches; the values were found as 5.46±0.4 sec for boys athletes aged 14-16 (n=16) and 5.11±0.3 sec for basketball players (n=19) (Kamiş, Pekel, & Aydos, 2018), 5,63±0,4 sec for 1 year old judoists (age: 13.35±1 years, n=20) (Peker, Kaya, & Zengin, 2017), 5.47±0.4 sec for 13-16 age wrestlers (n=480) (Bayraktar, 2017), 5.18±0.4 sec for girls 12-13 years old in football (n=79), and 4.92±0.24 sec in girls aged 14-17 (n=223) (Brown, & Vescovi, 2019). According to these results, it was observed that the agility features of football player girls are better than the results of this research, while the other values are close. Different training patterns and physical properties can cause these differences.
In our study, mean test values of 20m sprint were 3.61±0.1 s in Group I, 3.44±0.1 s in Group II and 3.60±0.1 s in Group III for girls; and 3.57±0.1 sec in Group I and 3.06±0.1 sec in Group II for boys. In the study of creating norms in Turkey in 2010, these values were 4.35±0.4 sec in girls aged 11 (n=680), 4.23±0.3 sec in girls aged 12 (n=680); 4.12±0.3 sec in 11 years old boys (n=680), and 4.08±0.2 sec in 12 years old boys (n=680) (Bayraktar, Pekel, Yaman, & Aydos, 2010). 3.41±0.22 sec for male wrestlers aged 13-15 (n=25), 3.56±0.23 sec for handball players (n=26) (Buyer, & Huge, 2015); It has been determined as 3.60±0.26 sec for girls (n=51) and 3.66±0.45 sec for boys (n=42) (Nalbant, 2018). 20m test values in our study, in girls and boys in the 11-12 years, was found to be better from Turkey norm value of the average (non-active). In the 13-15 age range, the results of girls in our study are similar to those of basketball players, whereas, in boys, the values of the athletes in our study are better than other branch athletes. It is noteworthy that 14-16year-old male elite figure skating athletes are faster than male basketball players and handball players of similar ages.
In a study on figure skating (singles discipline) (age:15.6±2.4 years, n=60); body height, body weight, BMI, sitting height average values were stated as 158.5 cm, 51.4 kg, 20.1, 84.1 cm, respectively (Monsma, & Malina, 2005). In our study, the values of Group III in girls were determined as 159.2 cm, 48.3.6 kg, 19.1, 85.7, respectively (Table 1). Accordingly, it was observed that the mean body height and sitting height of the girls were higher and body weight and BMI mean values were lower. In the same study (Monsma, & Malina, 2005), arm relaxed, arm flexed and tensed, calf girths, breadths of Humerus and Femur mean values were determined as 24.5cm, 25.8cm, 32.6cm, 8.6cm and 6.0cm respectively. In our study, these values were determined as 22.7cm, 24.2cm, 32.0cm, 8.6cm and 5.7cm respectively in Group III. When compared, it was observed that the mean values of breadths measurements and calf girths were consistent, and the values of arm relaxed girts were lower, the difference between relaxed arm and flexed-tensed arm girth values was better in our athletes. Genetic factors, different training patterns and measurement techniques can cause these differences. It has been determined that foot length is associated with more parameters in male athletes than female athletes (Table 3, 4). Somatotype features may change with growth, age, exercise, and nutrition (Carter, 1996). The ectomesomorphic feature was observed in elite female athletes aged 15,7 years (n=18) and their endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy values were 2.6-3.8-3.0 (Faulkner, 1976), respectively. Another study in the 15.6±2.4 age group (n=60) was found to be 3.1-3.4-3.0 (Monsma, & Malina, 2005). In our study, in the group III (15-16 age group in girls), these values were determined as 3.1-3.0-3.4 (Table 1) and it was observed that they were compatible with the previous studies, but the mesomorphic value was found to be slightly low. There is a need for studies with more athletes who are followed up for a long time in different disciplines and levels.
The development of the motor skills required for the perfect execution of movement difficulties is generally done in preparatory period training. Agility, power, and flexibility performance may vary depending on discipline and athlete levels. Although the strength of the lower limb muscles is prominent in figure skating, the strength of the upper limb muscles is also needed to maintain positions in complex lifts (ice dance and pairs discipline). Supportive workouts (conditioning) are required at singles, ice dances, and pairs at all levels (Slater, et al., 2016). Core-strength exercises has been shown to have a positive effect on jumps (Bingül, 2017). Properly individualized fitness programs can support performance while reducing the risk of injury.
Increasing the training capacity, recovery after fatigue, and the ability to successfully maintain the technical value and features of the movements until the end of the choreography on ice is also associated with the athlete's endurance ability. In this study, when 20m Shuttle Run test values are examined; it has been observed that the level and step average values (Table 2), which correspond to the total shuttle number of our athletes, are at a "very good" level according to international norms (active athletes) (7/5-9/3 for girls, 8/9-10/9 for boys, aged 12-13; 8/8-10/7 for girls, 9/9 12/2 for boys, aged 14-15; 9/8-11/10 for girls, 11/4-13/7 for boys, aged 16-17) (Topendsports, 2019). In the figure skating, it was stated that the tests applied to the athletes should be distinctive, it has been argued that the handgrip force and the countermovement jump test (CMJ) (whereas in this sport, the jumps are usually done with the swing of the arms) cannot be sport-specific tests when anthropometric measurements and physical fitness tests are compared; the importance of motor coordination tests has been emphasized (Mostaert, et al., 2016).

Conclusion
In this study, it was observed that as the age, training year, and experience of athletes increased, their physical maturation improved. Basic physical properties (body weight, stature, arm span, and sitting height) and girth measurements were more associated with Emine Kutlay, Fehime Haslofça, Ercan Haslofça THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS PARAMETERS OF FIGURE SKATING ATHLETES European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science -Volume 6 │ Issue 7 │ 2020 12 physical fitness parameters. In terms of gender, it was observed that boys were associated with more physical fitness parameters than girls, and the relationships between skinfold thickness and physical fitness parameters were also higher in male athletes.

Recommendations
During the selection process of young elite ice-skating athletes, their capacity to learn new motor skills should be emphasized. Also, the relationships of tests performed on ice or land can be explored. In addition to the standard tests to be carried out at certain intervals in athletes, evaluation of the relations between morphological features and motor abilities with sports-specific tests may contribute to the selection of athletes and training plans of the federations. With this understanding, training and competition goals can be directed correctly. Federations should take into account such studies and take part in annual activity programs and also allocate budgets for them.