Determination of Some Physical Fitness and Body Composition Characteristics of Young Bocce Players in Turkish National Team

Bocce is gaining popularity throughout the world and is a game that is dominated by aerobic and anaerobic power-capacity, endurance, and strength and body composition. These are all important factors in order to reach a successful performance in Bocce. The purpose of this study was to determine some physical fi tness and body composition characteristics of young Bocce players in Turkish national team. A total of 26 six (14 female age 21.00±8.47 and 12 male age 19.58±3.34) Bocce players from National Team of Turkey participated in this study voluntarily. Subjects’ height, body weight, body mass index and body fat percentage were measured. Body fat percentage was determined by Yuhasz formula, and isometric dynamometer was used in order to determine knee, back, grip strength. The sit and reach test was used for the determination of fl exibility. Results indicated that Bocce players have normal body mass index and body fat percentage and ectomorphy-mesomorphy properties. Results of the isometric knee, back, right-left grip strength values of Bocce players was 77.54±24.8 kg, 90.54±26.85 kg and 36.10±9.91-34.27±10.08 respectively and have normal fl exibility (32.5±5.86). As a conclusion, the fi ndings of the present study indicated that Bocce players have almost average body fat percentage, isometric strength and fl exibility function.


Introduction
Th e physiological demands of Bocce require players to be competent in several aspects of fi tness, which include aerobic and anaerobic power, muscle strength, balance, fl exibility and body composition (muscle fi ber distribution, muscle cross sectional area, leg volume-mass, etc). Th ese fi tness components oft en vary with the individual player, the positional role in the team and the team's style of play. In addition body composition, aerobic and anaerobic performance, muscle strength, power, and speed are important physiological characteristics of Bocce players in order to perform in a Bocce game. Th erefore it is clear that aerobic-anaerobic performance, balance and muscular strength play a major role in optimal performance in Bocce. In particular, anaerobic performance and muscle strength of the lower limbs are signifi cantly associated with vertical jump height and sprinting performance (Wisloff , Castagna, Helgerud, Jones, & Hoff , 2004). Previous investigators have shown signifi cant diff erences in muscle strength, anaerobic performance, sprint performance and vertical jump between team players of diff erent ages (Çakır, Sönmez, & Yılmaz, 2009), muscle fi ber distribution (Esbjornsson, Sylven, Holm, & Jansson, 1993), muscle cross sectional area (Rosene, Fogarty, & Mahaff ey, 2001), leg volume, leg mass (Chelly et al., 2010), intensity of training, levels of competition (Hencken & White, 2006) and Bocce teams of diff erent divisions (Wisloff et al., 2004;Gissis et al., 2006).
Muscle strength can be defi ned as the amount of force a muscle group can exert against a resistance in one maximal eff ort and is closely related with anaerobic performance (Çakır et al., 2009) is of concern in Bocce because during relevant Bocce activities lower limb muscles must generate high forces for dribbling, turning and change of pace (Bradic, Bradic, Pasalic, & Markovic, 2009).
Body composition (body size and somatotype) is another factor that is generally accepted to have a great infl uence on athletic performance (Reilly, Bangsbo, & Franks, 2000). Specifi cally body fat and fat free mass have been accepted as a crucial component of aerobic-anaerobic performance (Mayhew, Hancock, Rollison, Ball, & Bowen, 2001), strength and sprint performance (Dowson, Nevill, Lakomy, Nevill, & Hazeldine, 1998). For instance, Mayhew et al. (2001) reported that body composition component was one of the major factors explaining the anaerobic power and sprint performance.
Sprint performance is another fundamental activity for many sports and consists of a number of components such as the start, acceleration and maximum speed phases. It is known that sprinting requires high force production. Previous research has identifi ed force production capabilities of legs to be a key component in sprinting (Kin İşler, Arıburun, Özkan, Aytar, & Tandoğan, 2008).
Bocce has many similarities with any other sports disciplines. It can be played by individuals, pairs, or teams of three. It is gaining popularity throughout the world and is a game that is dominated by aerobic and anaerobic power-capacity, endurance, strength, fl exibility, and balance and body composition. Th ese are important factors for successful Bocce performance. Bocce, which is known as "Boules" or "Petanque" in French and "Bowls" in English, has been a very popular sport in Turkey during last 10 years aft er the establishment of the national federation in 2005. It has been adopted as one of the school sports in 2013, and got popularity in schools all around Turkey. Bocce is a very typical sport, as it includes both individual and team competitions, and has traditional strategic games played against opponent teams, and fast fl owing, endurance and strength demanding disciplines played against time (Turkmen, 2011;Turkmen, Bozkus, & Altintas, 2013). Th us, it would represent both individual and team sports and require both mental and physical competencies. Th erefore the fi ndings of this study would normally be applicable to many other similar sport disciplines. To date, no studies have been reported that specifi cally investigated the relationship between aerobic, anaerobic performance, strength, balance, locomotor capacity and speed of action. Th e purpose of the present study was to investigate some physical fi tness and body composition characteristics of young Bocce players representing Turkish national Bocce team, which is the fi rst study so far on Bocce players; therefore it will have an important eff ect on scientifi c studies focusing on Bocce in near future.

Subjects and Experimental Approach
A total of twenty six (14 female age 21.00±8.47 and 12 male age 19.58±3.34) Bocce players who were selected for junior and espoirs national teams in 2016, participated in this study voluntarily. Th e subjects were informed about the possible risks and benefi ts of the study and gave their informed consent to participate in this study. Th e study was conducted over a fi ve days period, during which the players did not participate in any other training or matches. Subjects' height, body weight, body mass index and body fat percentage were determined. Body fat percentage was determined by Yuhasz formula. Isometric Dynamometer was used for the determination of knee, back, grip strength. Th e sit and reach test was used for the determination of fl exibility.

Anthropometric Measurements
Subjects reported to the laboratory at 8:00 am First, body height (cm), body mass (kg), and percentage of body fat (PBF) measurements were taken for each subject. Th e body height of the Bocce players was measured by a stadiometer with an accuracy of ±1 cm (SECA, Germany), and while electronic scales (Tanita BC 418, Japan) accurate to within 0.1 kg were used to measure body mass and percentage of body fat (Lohman, Slaughter, Boileau, Bunt, & Lussier, 1984). Skinfold thickness was measured with a Holtain skinfold caliper (Hotain, UK) which applied a pressure of 10 g/mm 2 with an accuracy of ±2 mm. Gulick anthropometric tape (Holtain, UK) with an accuracy of ±1 mm was used to measure the circumference of extremities. Diametric measurements were determined by Harpenden callipers (Holtain, UK) with an accuracy of ±1 mm. Th e Bocce players' somatotypes were then calculated using the Heath-Carter formula.

Vertical Jump Measurements
Vertical jump performance was measured using a portable force platform (Newtest, Finland). Players performed countermovement (CMJ) and squat jumps (SJ) according to the protocol described by Bosco, Luhtanen, & Komi (1983). Before testing, the players performed self-administered submaximal CMJs and SJ (2-3 repetitions) as a practice and specifi c additional warm-up. Th ey were asked to keep their hands on their hips to prevent any infl uence of arm movements on the vertical jumps and to avoid coordination as a confounding variable in the assessment of the leg extensors (Bosco et al., 1995). Each subject performed 3 maximal CMJs and SJs, with approximately 2 minutes' recovery in between. Players were asked to jump as high as possible; the best score was recorded in centimeters (Bosco et al., 1995).

Flexibility measurement
Flexibility was evaluated by the sit and reach test which is the most common fl exibility test used in health related fi tness test batteries. The subjects sat with their feet approximately hip-width against the testing box. They kept their knees extended and placed the right hand over the left, and slowly reached forward as far as they could by sliding their hands along the measuring board. Reaches short of the toes were recorded as negative forward reach scores, and reaches beyond the toes were recorded as positive forward reach scores in centimetre to the nearest 0.5 cm using the scale on the box (Kayıhan, Ersöz, & Özkan, 2013).

Strength measurement
Isometric Dynamometer was used for the determination of knee, back, grip strength. Muscular strength was assessed using a Takei strength dynamometer (Takei Scientifi c Instruments, Tokyo, Japan).

Statistical analyses
Means and standard deviations are given as descriptive statistics and the relationship among body composition, isometric strength and vertical jump performance in Bocce play-ers was evaluated by Pearson product Moment Correlation analysis. All analysis were executed in SPSS for Windows version 17.0 and the statistical signifi cance was set at p<0.05.

Results
Th e body composition, anaerobic performance (vertical jump) and isometric strength measurements of the Bocce players in the study are presented in Tables 1, 2, and 3; and  the correlations are presented in Table 4, 5, and 6 respectively.
As can be seen from Table 1, Bocce players have normal body mass index, body fat percentage, and ectomorphy-mesomorphy properties.  relation analyses indicated that signifi cant correlations existed between anaerobic performance and isometric strength.
On the other hand, none of the measurements of anaerobic and strength performance values were signifi cantly related to fl exibility (p>0.05). Th erefore, it is concluded that strength is a crucial component in anaerobic performance of bocce players, but fl exibility has no signifi cant relation with anaerobic performance

Discussion
Th e major fi nding of the present study is the existence of signifi cant relation between body composition, anaerobic power, fl exibility and isometric strength. Th is result is consistent with the results of previous studies. For instance Pyne, Duthie, Saunders, Petersen and Portus (2006) highlighted anthropometric measures of upper-body power, arm length and static jump as good correlates of peak ball speed in junior and senior fast bowlers. And Pyne et al. (2006) also have outlined the role of lower-body power as a partial predictor of ball release speed in senior bowlers, while Portus, Mason, Elliot, Pfi tzer and Done (2004) have reported front knee bracing action and higher braking forces were related to higher ball speeds, which might be accounted for faster run up speeds. Taken in context of the current results, these fi ndings highlight the importance of physical conditioning to improve peak running and potentially run-up speed. Moreover, training should also include the ability to tolerate increased bracing forces and transfer momentum from front-foot contact, through the trunk to the ball, to improve bowling performance (either throughout a spell or on specifi c balls). Consequently, as a player improves speed and strength it might result in a more effi cient delivery stride and increase optimal speed. However, it must be noted that while an increased run-up speed might be of some benefi t, there will be a point where increased speed results in a loss of control (Duffi eld, Carney, & Karppinen, 2009). On the other hand, Baker and Nance (1999) investigated the relationship between strength and power in rugby players and determined a strong positive correlation between maximum strength and maximum power. In another study Th orland, Johnson, Cisar, Housh and Th arp (1987) determined signifi cant strong correlation between isokinetic knee strength and anaerobic power and capacity of female sprinter and middle distance runners. According to Mayhew et al. (2001) leg extension strength strongly predicted anaerobic power in healthy college students; and Arslan (2005) also found that peak and mean power of university students who exercise regularly were correlated with explosive leg strength. As known muscular strength is one of the important factor that has a major role in anaerobic performance because with increased muscular strength the ability of muscles to generate muscular contraction in short-term high intensity activity also increases. Newman, Tarpenning and Marino (2004) found that concentric isokinetic knee extension and fl exion strength measures were signifi cantly correlated to single-sprint performance in football players. On the other hand, Cronin and Hansen (2005) determined no association between knee fl exion and extension strength and single-sprint performance that was determined over 5 m, 10 m and 30 m in rugby players. A plausible explanation for the lack of association between isokinetic knee strength and single-sprint performance in the present study might be due to subjects' characteristics. Bocce is a developing sport branch in Turkey and is played at the league level. Hence, the subjects of the present study are young players with a short background and low-level training experience. Having low training experience may be one of the reasons for the lack of association between body composition and physical fi tness. Another possible explanation for the lack of association may be the diff erent energy systems that each measure demands. To conclude, the fi ndings of the present study indicated that  body composition play a determinant role in anaerobic performance, strength and fl exibility performance in Bocce players. In addition, strength performance was found to be an important factor in anaerobic performance of Bocce players.