Anthropometric Characteristics of Young Bocce Athletes in the Raffa Specialty: An Analysis of Physical Parameters in Junior Players of National Level
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2025.3.22Keywords:
anthropometry, sport, training, athletes, physical performanceAbstract
Background. The sport of bocce, and in particular the specialty of Raffa, has seen significant competitive development in recent decades, but the scientific literature on the anthropometric characteristics of athletes, especially among young people, is still limited.
Objectives. This study aimed to analyze the physical characteristics of Raffa’s junior players at national level, focusing on anthropometric variables such as height, weight and body mass index (BMI).
Materials and methods. A sample of twenty athletes, divided into a research group consisting of ten athletes of national interest and a control group of ten non-competitive practitioners, was subjected to baseline measurements during regional events.
Results. The findings showed an average height of 170.5 cm and an average weight of 65.8 kg for the research team, with an average BMI of 22.63, indicating a condition of normal weight. However, 33.3% of the athletes in the research group were overweight or class I obese, suggesting the need for greater attention to physical preparation. The data were compared with those of the control group, which had an average height of 173.5 cm, an average weight of 74.5 kg and a BMI distribution with 50% of the athletes classified as overweight. The results were discussed in relation to the initial hypotheses and the existing literature.
Conclusions. This study offers important insights for the development of personalized training programs and for the selection of young talents, highlighting the importance of adequate physical preparation. Future prospects include deepening the analysis of the somatotype and the use of larger and more diverse samples.
Downloads
References
Febrianingrum, P. S., & Diana, D. (2021). The enhancement of children’s gross motor skill of group a through bocce games. BELIA: Early Childhood Education Papers, 10(2), 145-150.
Şimşek, M., & Kesilmiş, İ. (2022). Predicting athletic performance from physiological parameters using machine learning: Example of bocce ball. Journal of Sports Analytics, 8(4), 299-307. https://doi.org/10.3233/jsa-220617 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/JSA-220617
Gür, Y., Taskin, S., Özaktas, E. S., & Taskin, C. (2022). The Effect of Life Kinetic Exercise on Performance in Bocce Athletes. Journal of Educational Issues, 8(1), 664-671. https://doi.org/10.5296/jei.v8i1.19858 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5296/jei.v8i1.19858
Yuan, H., & Li, M. (2022). Bocce Training Based on Computer Technology Has an Effect on Physical Education in Colleges and Universities. Scientific Programming, 2022, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9111509 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9111509
Geçitli, G., Kavak, S., Metiner, H., Esmece, M., & Kesilmiş, İ. (2021). Reaction Time in Target Shooting Sports: Perspective of Bocce and Archery. Eurasian Research in Sport Science, 6(2), 121-129. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29228/ERISS.10
Türkmen, M., Özkan, A., Bozkus, T., & Kul, M. (2018). Determination of some physical fitness and body composition characteristics of young bocce players in Turkish national team. SportMont, 16(2018) 1: 13–17. https://doi.org/10.26773/smj.180201 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26773/smj.180201
Eler, N., & Eler, S. (2018). A Study on Somatotype Profiles of the Players in Turkish Bocce National Team. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 6(2), 28-35. https://doi.org/10.11114/jets.v6i2.2940 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11114/jets.v6i2.2940
Raiola G., Domenico, T., & Gaetano, A. (2015). Physical activity and its relation to body and ludic expression in childhood. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(3), 293-296. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s2p293 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s2p293
Scamardella, F., Limone, P., PELUSO CASSESE, F., Amato, G., Latino, F., & Tafuri, F. (2025). Taekwondo: Anthropometric characteristics and biomechanical advantage. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 25(2), 218-226. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2025.3.12
Cataldi, S., Latino, F., Greco, G., & Fischetti, F. (2019). Multilateral training improves physical fitness and fatigue perception in cancer patients. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 14. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2019.14.proc4.54 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2019.14.Proc4.54
Bălan, V., Strazdina, N., Dirzininka, I., & Mujea, A. M. (2020). Study on Learning the Bocce-Specific Technique. In Book of Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of Physical Education, Sport and Kinetotherapy (pp. 1-11). https://doi.org/10.51267/icpesk2020bp01 DOI: https://doi.org/10.51267/icpesk2020bp01
Firdaus, F., & Irfan, I. (2023). The Effect of Bocce Games on the Physical Fitness of Children with Grahita SLB AL-GIFARI During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Journal of Physical and Outdoor Education, 5(1), 27-36. https://doi.org/10.37742/jpoe.v5i1.200 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37742/jpoe.v5i1.200
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2000). CDC growth charts: United States. National Center for Health Statistics.
World Health Organization – WHO. (2007). WHO growth reference data for 5–19 years. https://doi.org/10.32614/cran.package.anthroplus DOI: https://doi.org/10.32614/CRAN.package.anthroplus
Badruzaman, B. (2021). Effect of Bocce Game on Perceptual Motor Ability and Object Control among Adolescents with Mental Retardation. Jurnal Pendidikan Jasmani dan Olahraga, 6(1), 129-136. https://doi.org/10.17509/jpjo.v6i1.32903 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/jpjo.v6i1.32903
Paciorek, M. (1992). Bocce. Palaestra, 8(2), 28-30.
Miao, L., Farzidayeri, J. E., Boles, W., & Nasab, A. S. (2017). An indoor Bocce game played by autonomous robots. In 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--27565 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--27565
Şimşek, B., Kilinçarslan, G., Avci, P., & Çakir, V. (2024). The Impact of Hemsball Training on Balance and Punto (Approaching) Scores in Boccia Athletes. International Journal of Religion, 5(5). https://doi.org/10.61707/5avtes43 DOI: https://doi.org/10.61707/5avtes43
Horowitz, G. L. (2009). International games: Building skills through multicultural play. Human Kinetics.
Mutlu Turkmen, Taner Bozkus, Atahan Altintas (2013). The Relationship Between Motivation Orientations and Competitive Anxiety in Bocce Players: Does Gender Make a Difference. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 2(4), 162-168. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130204.12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20130204.12
Helmi, B., et al., (2024a), The Role of Strength and Accuracy in Petanque Shooting Numbers: A Systematic Review. Proceedings of International Conference on Physical Education, Health, and Sports, 4.
Helmi, B., Hidayah, T., Pramono, H., & Hartono, M. (2024). The Use Of Eye And Hand Coordination Analysis Approach To Shooting Accuracy In The Sport Of Petanque: A Systematic Review. Journal of Physical Education and Sports, 13(3), 9-20.
Helmi, B., Hidayah, T., Pramono, H., Hartono, M., & Iskandar, T. (2024). Using a Biomechanical Analysis Approach to the Accuracy of Shooting Throws in Petanque Sport: Literature Review. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 24(1), 130-135. https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2024.1.16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2024.1.16
Hafidz, A., Wiriawan, O., Nugraha, A. D., Purnomo, M., Pratama, R. S., & Yudhistira, D. (2024). Mapping of Petanque Sports Research Trends for the period 2011-2024: A Bibliometric Analysis in the Scopus Database. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 24(5), 808-818. https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2024.5.17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2024.5.17
Costa, M., (2021). La boccia del punto. Booksprint, Salerno.
Epicentro (2025). Indagine 2022 – stato ponderale. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/
Irawan, F. A., Ramadhan, A. T., Junaidi, S., Hadi, H., Romadhoni, S., & Muhibbi, M. (2024). Effectiveness of muscle force and speed of movement carreau shot at distances of 6 and 7-meter petanque sport. Jurnal Keolahragaan, 12(1), 95-102. https://doi.org/10.21831/jk.v12i1.66405 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21831/jk.v12i1.66405
Kopp, J. (2022). Pétanque: Grundlagen, Technik, Taktik, Training, Spielformen, Copress, Novara.
Mardiah, O.W., (2022), intervensi stimulasi motorik, afektif, dan kognitif pada anak dengan down syndrome : a narrative review. JCI Jurnal Cakrawala Ilmiah, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.53625/jcijurnalcakrawalailmiah.v2i3.4034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53625/jcijurnalcakrawalailmiah.v2i3.4034
Maffeis, C., Olivieri, F., Valerio, G., Verduci, E., Licenziati, M. R., Calcaterra, V., ... & Wasniewska, M. (2023). The treatment of obesity in children and adolescents: consensus position statement of the Italian society of pediatric endocrinology and diabetology, Italian Society of Pediatrics and Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery. Italian journal of pediatrics, 49(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-024-01767-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-023-01458-z
Irawan, F. A. (2019). Biomechanical analysis of concentration and coordination on the accuracy in petanque shooting. ACTIVE: Journal of Physical Education, Sport, Health and Recreation, 8(2), 96-100.
Nurhasan, N., Al Ardha, M. A., Ristanto, K. O., Yang, C. B., Wijayanto, A., Pradana, S. W. K. C., ... & Firmansyah, A. (2024). Kinematic Movement Differences Between Petanque Pointing and Shooting Technique in Children. Retos: nuevas tendencias en educación física, deporte y recreación, (52), 52-61. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v52.97143 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v52.97143
Heath, B. H., & Carter, J. L. (1967). A modified somatotype method. American journal of physical anthropology, 27(1), 57-74. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330270108 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330270108
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Fabio Scamardella, Francesca Latino, Maria Giovanna Tafuri
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
