Kinesiology, Vol. 47. No. 1., 2015.
Original scientific paper
Positional differences of physical traits and physiological characteristics in female volleyball players – the role of age
Pantelis T. Nikolaidis
orcid.org/0000-0001-8030-7122
; Department of Physical and Cultural Education, Hellenic Army Academy, Athens, Greece
José Afonso
; Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Portugal
Krzysztof Buśko
; Department of Biomechanics, Institute of Sport, Warsaw, Poland
Jørgen Ingebrigtsen
; Strømsgodset Toppfotball, Drammen, Norway
Hamdi Chtourou
; Research Laboratory, “Sports Performance Optimization”, National Centre of Medicine and Sciences in Sport (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia
Jeffrey J. Martin
; Division of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies, Wayne University, USA
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the variation in physical and physiological characteristics according to playing position in adolescent and adult female volleyball players. Adolescent (n=62, aged 15.6±1.1 years) and adult volleyball players (n=58, aged 24.9±5.3 years) were examined for anthropometric characteristics and body composition, and they performed a physical working capacity test, a 3-minute step
test, the Wingate anaerobic test, sit-and-reach test, handgrip strength test, and countermovement vertical jump with arm-swing test (CMJa). Adult players were taller and had a higher percentage of fat-free mass,
better performance in cardiorespiratory power, anaerobic power, handgrip muscle strength and CMJa than adolescents (Cohen’s d>0.45). Positional differences in body height (centers were the tallest, whereas liberos were the shortest, p<.001) were found for both age groups. However, positional differences in body mass and fat-free mass were observed only in adolescents (centers were heavier than liberos, p<.05), whereas differences in CMJa were only in adults (hitters jumped higher than liberos, p<.05). Thus, the differences in body mass, fat-free mass and CMJa among playing positions in female volleyball were age-dependent. These findings might help coaches and trainers to develop position-specific training programs.
Keywords
positional role; exercise testing; physical fitness; anaerobic power; age groups
Hrčak ID:
140254
URI
Publication date:
29.6.2015.
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