SOMATOTYPE

• Somatotyping is a method of identifying people by their body shape.

• Developed by U.S. psychologist W.H. Sheldon.
• In Sheldon’s system, human beings can be classified as to body build in
terms of three extreme body types:
➢Endomorphic: or round, fat type
➢Mesomorphic: or muscular type
➢Ectomorphic: or slim, linear type.
 •Increased fat storage, wide waist and
Endomorph large bone structure (Fat)

•Medium bone, low fat level, wide

Mesomorph shoulder and narrow waist (Muscular)

•Long and thin muscles/ limbs and low

Ectomorph fat storage
• A somatotype number of three digits is determined for an individual
classified by the system:
• With the first digit referring to endomorphy, the second to mesomorphy, and
the third to ectomorphy.
• Each digit is on a scale of 1 to 7. Hence, the extreme endomorph has the
somatotype 711, the extreme mesomorph 171, and the extreme ectomorph
117.
• In practice, extreme types (711, 171, 117) are rare or nonexistent, and the
person of normal build has a somatotype approaching 444, evenly
balanced between extremes.
 Ectomorphic
• Long distance runner
• Basketball player

Endomorphic
• Weight lifter
• Short putter

Endomorphic
• Sports person should not fall in this category
 CATEGORIES
1. Central: No component differs by more than one unit from the other two.

2. Balanced endomorph: Endomorphy is dominant and mesomorphy and ectomorphy are equal

3. Mesomorphic endomorph: Endomorphy is dominant and mesomorphy is greater than ectomorphy

4. Mesomorph-endomorph: Endomorphy and mesomorphy are equal

5. Endomorphic mesomorph: Mesomorphy is dominant and endomorphy is greater than ectomorphy

6. Balanced mesomorph: Mesomorphy is dominant and endomorphy and ectomorphy are equal

7. Ectomorphic mesomorph: Mesomorphy is dominant and ectomorphy is greater than endomorphy

8. Mesomorph-ectomorph: Mesomorphy and ectomorphy are equal

 CATEGORIES
9. Mesomorphic ectomorph: Ectomorphy is dominant and mesomorphy is greater than endomorphy

10. Balanced ectomorph: Ectomorphy is dominant and endomorphy and mesomorphy are equal

11. Endomorphic ectomorph: Ectomorphy is dominant and endomorphy is greater than mesomorphy

12. Endomorph-ectomorph: Edomorphy and ectomorphy are equal

13. Ectomorphic endomorph: Endomorphy is dominant and ectomorphy is greater than mesomorphy