Anthropometric and Motor Performance Variables are Decisive Factors for the Selection of Junior National Female Volleyball Players

Abstract

This study examined whether anthropometric and fitness tests might successfully predict selection of young female volleyball players for a junior national team. Sixty four female players (age: 14.4 ± 0.5 y, body height: 1.76 ± 0.05 m, body mass: 63.9 ± 6.4 kg) underwent a selection procedure for the junior national team. Anthropometric data and speed and power test results were obtained and players were graded for their performance in a volleyball tournament. Selected players differed from the non-qualified in body height (3.4%; p = 0.001), standing reach height (2.6%; p = 0.001), the sum of skinfolds (15.4%; p = 0.035), body mass index (BMI; 7.1%; p = 0.005) and spike jump and reach (SJR) (2.5%; p = 0.001). Selected players were classified in the 99.2 ± 1.6 percentile in body height and in the 51.4 ± 20.6 percentile in the BMI, which were significantly different from those of the non-qualified players (95.4 ± 7.0 and 66.7 ± 18.6, p = 0.02 and p = 0.004, respectively). Stepwise discriminant analysis yielded a discriminant function (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.78) that was highly loaded by height, SJR and the BMI (r = 0.79, r = 0.74 and r = -0.53, respectively). Cross validation results showed that selection was correctly predicted in 15 out of the 20 selected players (predictive accuracy: 75.0%) and in 35 out of the 44 non-qualified players (predictive accuracy: 79.5%). In conclusion, body height, the BMI and SJR height successfully discriminated between selected and non-qualified elite young female junior national team volleyball players. The equal vertical jump, sprint and agility of selected and non-qualified players, highlight the importance of body height and the BMI for selection of elite junior female volleyball players.

The Relative Age Effect and Talent Identification Factors in Youth Volleyball in Poland

“…. ., " which is in line with research indicating that body height and spike jump reach are the decisive factors for the selection of junior national female volleyball players (Tsoukos et al, 2019). Conversely, previous studies have shown that anthropometric data are inefficient for discriminating between successful and unsuccessful talent-identified junior volleyball players (Gabbett et al, 2007).…”

“…A player who changes direction quickly and efficiently is not necessarily effective in the game, for example, in his/her reaction to a ball flying at high speed (Young, 2015). However, as in previous studies, there was no significant difference between selected and unselected players in test results based on planned change-of-direction (Gabbett et al, 2007;Tsoukos et al, 2019). Our findings support this thesis, and no significant difference in zigzag agility test results was reported between selected and non-selected players.…”

“…These findings are supported by a recent study by Carvalho et al (2020) comparing the morphological profiles of Portuguese adult female players at different levels. They suggest that “higher body mass, body height… are important for top-level performance…,” which is in line with research indicating that body height and spike jump reach are the decisive factors for the selection of junior national female volleyball players ( Tsoukos et al, 2019 ). Conversely, previous studies have shown that anthropometric data are inefficient for discriminating between successful and unsuccessful talent-identified junior volleyball players ( Gabbett et al, 2007 ).…”

Peer Review #1 of "The effect of long-term volleyball training on the level of somatic parameters of female volleyball players in various age categories (v0.1)"

“…Manuscript to be reviewed from studies that focused on the selection of female players for the national junior volleyball team. The selected players had a significantly higher BH than the players who were not selected (Papadopoulou et al, 2019;Tsoukos et al, 2019). The BH results presented in scientific studies correspond with the values determined in our volleyball players from VG2 (aged 13+), unless the studies deal with players selected for representative purposes.…”

Relative Age Effect in the Girls’ Volleyball U18 World Championship

“…The hypothesis of maturational theory suggests that physical development is an important factor in sports in which advanced maturation promotes performance. Volleyball is one of those sports in which certain anthropometric characteristics combined with physical performances (e.g., strength, power, agility) are important requirements (Petroski et al, 2013;Tsoukos et al, 2019). When analysing height, we observed that the medallist athletes were taller compared to other teams ( Figure 2).…”