Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to compare the age-related patterns of anthropometric characteristics in young wrestlers (8-13 yr) to those of a national representative sample of boys the same age. Methods: Two hundred and fifty-three young wrestlers (X[spacing macron] age +/- SD, 11.1 +/- 1.6 yr; height (HT), 145.5 +/- 11.4 cm; body weight (BW), 40.7 +/- 10.9 kg) volunteered as subjects in the present study. The sample of young wrestlers was divided into six independent age groups: age group 8 (AG8), 8.00-8.99 yr (n = 27); AG9, 9.00-9.99 yr (n = 43); AG10, 10.00-10.99 yr (n = 50); AG11, 11.00-11.99 yr (n = 45); AG12, 12.00-12.99 yr (n = 56); and AG13, 13.00-13.99 yr (n = 32). Nine variables including BW, HT, body mass index (BMI), subscapular and triceps skinfolds, waist, midarm, maximal calf, and midthigh circumferences were assessed on each subject. Results: The results showed that there was only one (midthigh circumference) difference between the young wrestlers and the national sample for yearly changes in the anthropometric dimensions. Discussion: These findings indicated that participation in age group wrestling was not associated with age-related patterns of anthropometric characteristics that were different from those of a national representative sample of boys the same age.
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