Original scientific paper

Differences in aerobic capacity indicators between the Croatian national team and club level volleyball players

Tomislav Đurković ; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Nenad Marelić ; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Tomica Rešetar ; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the possible significance of differences in the area of aerobic capacity among two groups of volleyball players. Laboratory measurements were performed on sixty-eight male subjects, all members of the A1 Croatian volleyball league who were divided into 2 groups. The first group consisted of higher level volleyball players (n = 34) with recent national team status who performed in qualification matches for the European or World Championship. The second group consisted of club level
players who were members of clubs playing in the A1 Croatian league and who have not performed in national teams (n = 34). The aerobic capacity was estimated by the progressive maximal exercise test performed on a motor-driven treadmill. The following variables were studied: relative maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max -
ml kg-1 min-1), relative maximal oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (VO2AT - ml kg-1 min-1), percentage of VO2max at anaerobic threshold (%VO2max - %), maximum speed before exhaustion (Vmax - km h-1), and speed of the treadmill at anaerobic threshold (VAT - km h-1). The group of national level volleyball players had numerically better results in all the measured variables and the T–test for independent groups showed a statistically
significant difference (p <0.05) in two of the five measured variables (Vmax and VAT), with large and moderate magnitudes which were observed in those two variables (Cohen’s d 0.75 and 0.57). A player’s participation in top clubs and national selections implies his exposure to an additional training volume, trainings of higher quality and intensity, which can ultimately have a positive effect on aerobic capacity indicators and certain neuromuscular adaptations of the lower extremities. Volleyball players with a higher level of aerobic capacity recover quickly between points and sets and they have the ability to delay fatigue, which can result in a better situational efficiency in long points, sets and matches. Players with better neuromuscular control and movement biomechanics can perform more efficiently during a volleyball match. Among other factors, this
can be a possible reason for their selection in the national team.

Keywords

oxygen consumption; anaerobic threshold; biomechanics

Hrčak ID:

127846

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/127846

Publication date:

30.9.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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