Jumping Ability, Reactive Strength and Anthropometric Characteristics of Elite Junior Women Volleyball Players

Kostas Sotiropoulos1, Ilias Smilios1, Marios Christou1, 2, Aggelos Spaias1, Helen Douda1, & Savvas P. Tokmakidis1

1Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Hellas

2Department of Life & Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Cyprus

Abstract

Body size and dimensions, in conjunction with jumping ability, may constitute critical components for successful performance in Volleyball. The purpose of this study was: to measure a number of anthropometric characteristics and vertical jump performance of elite youth women volleyball players, from the national teams of the Balkan countries, and make comparisons based on nationality and players positions. The sam- ple consisted of eighty six athletes (age: 15.5–18.5 years) from Greece (GR, n=21), Bulgaria (BU, n=20), Serbia (SER, n=11), Moldavia (MOL, n= 9), Turkey (TUR, n=12) and Romania (RO, n=13), distributed also as setters (n=14), outside hitters (n=31), universals (n=12), middle blockers (n=22) and liberos (n=7). The subjects were measured for body height, body mass, body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage and performed four types of vertical jump; a squat jump initiated from a knee flexion of 90o, a counter-movement jump, a counter-movement jump with arm swing and a drop jump from a dropping height of 40 cm from which reactive strength was also calculated. According to the results, GR and RO had higher body fat percentage than MOL and BU (p<.05). Middle blockers were taller than the setters, the outside hitters and the liberos (p<.01). Universals were taller than the setters and the liberos (p<.01) and the outside hitters than the liberos (p<.01). No differences were observed in BMI between the players and the teams (p>.05), though middle blockers had higher body mass than the setters, the outside hitters and the liberos (p<.05). In squat jump, counter movement jump and drop jump TUR had higher values than GR and BU (p<.05). In counter-movement jump with arm swing, TUR had also higher values than GR, BU and MOL (p<.05). Furthermore, TUR and SER had higher reactive strength values than GR and BU (p<.05) and TUR had also higher values than RO (p<.05). The evaluation of the physical characteristics and capacities provide the coaches useful information about the selection and development of young athletes as well as the effectiveness of the training programs.

Keywords: volleyball, youth, vertical jump, reactive strength, body composition, body height