volleyball case study (1)

BSc(Hons) Sport and exercise Science Matthew Moore

Module Code: 66-6916-00L Applied Physiology of Sport Performance

Anthropometric and Physiological Characteristics of a Male Collegiate

Volleyball Player

Introduction

Volleyball is defined as a game of high intensity intermixed with rest periods usually

occurring after a point is won or at the end of a set (Maclaren et al. 1990). It has been

described by Smith, Roberts and Watson (1992) as having a large anaerobic component.

Physiological characteristics and demands differ according to the position played; setters are

more endomorphic endomorphs, centres tend to be ectomorphic mesomorphs and hitters

and opposites are deemed to be balanced ectomorphs (Duncan, Woodfield and al-Nakeeb,

2006). Because of the high intensity nature of the sport, it would suggest that a player would

require well developed glycolytic and creatine phosphate energy systems along with

advanced oxidative efficiency (Setaro et al. 2013). The vertical jump is the most important

attribute to a volleyball player and it requires efficient performance during a game as it is

frequently used in offensive and defensive movements (Thissen-Milder and Mayhew, 1990).

Recent literature now indicates that speed and muscular power is seen to be crucial to be

able to perform multidirectional movements on the court, especially when performing vertical

jumps; seen to be the most important aspect of a game by sports scientists and coaches

(Sheppard et al. 2009). Furthermore Gonzalez-Rave, Arija and Clemente-Saurez (2011)

state that players must undertake conditioning specific to their volleyball performance

alongside additional agility, sprint and resistance training to be able to compete with their

counterparts.

Several types of tests were undertaken by the athlete. Anthropometric measures height,

body mass and body composition were all recorded as they are useful indicators of an

athlete's diet and physical growth which aid maximum performance (Chatterjee, Chatterjee

and Bandyopadhyay, 2006). The drop jump, a useful exercise to aid performance in

volleyball (Bobbert, 1990) was used alongside a vertical jump test as they provide

information on the athletes' current lower body leg power (Nedeljkovic, 2003). Furthermore a

5m and 10m protocol was undertaken as this testing protocol indicates an athlete's

acceleration and maximum speed, crucial in match environments (Voelzke et al. 2012). The



final testing protocol undertaken was the Yo-Yo intermittent IR2 test used to determine a

person's ability to recover from a repeated exercise bout largely involving the anaerobic

energy system (Bangsbo, Iaia and Krustrup, 2008). The Yo-Yo IR2 is more relevant than the

IR1 as it reflects physiological specifics identical to those of volleyball (Bangsbo, Iaia and

Krustrup, 2008). The aim of this sport-specific case study therefore was to compare and

discuss the results of the physiological and anthropometric tests against elite player values,

and discuss what implications these results may have on the athlete's training and

performance.

Methodology

Participants. One well-trained male collegiate volleyball player currently playing at

collegiate level participated in the study. The participant usually undertakes 5 volleyball

training sessions and 3 strength and conditioning sessions per week each lasting 2 hours.

Two volleyball competitive matches are also played throughout the week consisting of 90

minutes.

Table 1: Show's the participant's anthropometric values and playing/training statistics.

Testing Protocol. Regular anthropometric measures (height, body mass and sum of seven

skinfolds), lower leg power (vertical and drop jumps), maximal aerobic capacity (Yo-Yo

intermittent recovery test) and speed (5-m and 10-m sprints) were the battery of tests

Participant Characteristics

Body Mass (kg) 76.2

Height (cm) 178

Age (years) 20

Training (years) 8

Current Playing

Level

Sheffield Hallam

University Premier

Division



undertaken. Anthropometric tests were undertaken in session 1 along with lower leg power,

with a 5 minute rest between the jump tests. For anthropometric measures the participant

was advised to take their shoes off whilst being measured for height and body mass.

Skinfolds were taken twice, with a 1 minute window between each measure of the same site.

In session 2 5-m and 10-m sprints were recorded along with the Yo-Yo intermittent IR2 test.

After the first sprint was undertaken a rest of 1 minute was allowed until the final sprint. The

Yo-Yo IR2 protocol was undertaken 5 minutes after the final sprint and concluded the testing

protocols.

Anthropometry. Anthropometric measures of the participant were undertaken. Height (cm)

was recorded using a Wall mounted stadiometer (Holtain LTD, UK), body mass (kg) using

beam balance scales (Avery, UK) and sum of seven skin folds using Harpenden skinfold

callipers (British Indicators LTD, England). Biceps, triceps, subscapular, supraspinale,

abdomen, frontal thigh and medial calf on the right side of the body were selected to be the

seven sites. Each skinfold was taken in accordance to Tanner and Gore (2013).

Warm-up protocol. For both testing sessions, a standardised warm-up was undertaken by

the participant. The first 5 minutes consisted of walking, light jogging and static stretches (10

second hold). The second part comprised of dynamic movements and stretching including

squats, hops, inch-worms, lunges, skips and leg swings.

Lower-leg power. The vertical jump (VJ) was the first jump undertaken. For the VJ, the

participant assumed a standing position with hands fixed on their hips. The participant

subsequently flexed their knees to a freely chosen position and thrusted upwards (Rey et al.

2012). In total, 4 jumps were performed and each calculated using the Opto Measurement

System (Opto Jump Next, Microgate Srl, Italy) that transferred results to a connected laptop.

From the four trials the highest jump value was obtained and rounded to the nearest

centimetre. During the drop jump (DJ) protocol, the participant was instructed to place hands

on their waist and drop off the platform with their leading leg parallel. Dropping as fast and

high as they could was advised and keeping the ankles and knees fully extended when

taking off was required (Chen et al. 2013). The same protocol was followed on from the VJ.

Yo-Yo IR2 test. (Anaerobic Demand). The Yo-Yo IR2 test was set up using two 20-m



runs at a progressive incremental speed which was controlled by auditory beeps from a

specialised CD within a speaker. Between each running stint the participant was allowed a

10s rest before commencement of the next bout. If the participant failed to make the finishing

line distance on two occasions, the distance covered was noted and indicated the result of

the test. The test was conducted in an indoor sports hall where a 20-m long, 2-m wide track

was set up using cones as the marking pathway (Krustrup et al. 2006).

Speed. The speed of the participant was measured using two different distances; a 5-m and

10-m distance sprint performed twice with the fastest value of each used to represent the

test results. Electronic timing gates (Brower Timing Systems, USA) were used to record the

time of each sprint. The timing gates were placed 5-m and 10-m away from a set starting line

clearly marked. From a standing start the participant was instructed by an investigator to run

as fast as possible through the 10-m line. All sprint data was recorded to the nearest 0.01 s

with the best value from the trials represented as the test result (Gabbett and Georgieff,

2007)

Results

The anthropometric characteristics of the participant are presented in table 2. These values

represent the best/highest values from all testing conditions. Table 3 & 4 represent the test

results for lower body power as well as maximum speed and anaerobic capacity.

Table 2: Anthropometrical characteristics of the participant.

Characteristics Values

Anthropometric characteristics

Body mass (kg)

Height (m)

Sum of skinfolds (mm)

76.2

1.78

52.3



The participant data is presented from all anthropometric tests conducted, showing the best

values achieved (table 2).

Table 3: Maximum speed and Intermittent Recovery values of the participant.

Type of test Values

5-m sprint (s)

10-m sprint (s)

Yo-Yo IR2 (m)

0.91

1.72

1000

The best results of each test were recorded and represented as the participants' final results

(table 3).

Table 4: Participant's lower body power.

Vertical Jump Drop Jump

Height (cm) Flight Time (s) Contact Time (s) Flight Time (s) Height (cm)

76.9 0.792 0.166 0.628 48.3

A 28.6cm difference occurred between the height of the vertical jump and the height of the

drop jump, the vertical jump being the highest showing 76.9cm compared to that of the drop

jump showing 48.3cm. Flight time is also different between the two conditions; 0.792s during

the vertical compared to 0.628s during the drop jump, a 0.164s difference.

Discussion

The mean height for the senior elite Greek national team was recorded at 1.95m (Kasabalis,

Douda and Sawas, 2005). Additionally the mean height for several other elite national teams

was 2.1m (Sheppard et al. 2008) compared to the participant's height of 1.76m. As volleyball



is a game played predominantly over head height, it would be assumed that the taller the

player is the more advantage they would have. Compared to elite junior and senior

Australian players' mean sum of skinfolds (57mm) (Tanner and Gore, 2013), the participants'

sum of skinfolds (52.3mm) was significantly lower. The support and education elite athletes

receive is thought to be much more than that of the participant regarding nutritional

strategies (Grandjean, 1997), therefore results may suggest that the participants' nutritional

strategies are more beneficial than their Australian counterparts despite the gap in support.

Body mass of the participant (76.2kg) compared with other studies was lower; 90.8kg

(Sheppard et al. 2011), 94.3kg (Chen et al. 2013). This could be of significant advantage as

an increased body mass has shown to have a detrimental effect on jump height

(Bandyopadhyay, 2007). When compared against elite athletes of the same age however,

body mass is similar (76.9kg) (Aouadi et al. 2012).

A study by Voelzke et al. (2012) conducted sprint tests on German National team

volleyballers; 5m (1.074s) and 10m (1.852s) were not as good as participant values; 5m

(0.91s) and 10m (1.72s). The subject's extensive gym programme could be explained as a

reason for the gulf in results. The participants vertical jump height (79.6cm) was significantly

higher than the Argentinian elite national squad (65.3cm) (Sheppard, Gabbett and

Stanganelli, 2009). Furthermore a study by Voelzke et al. (2012) highlighted the mean drop

jump height of the German national squad (28.9cm), which compared with the participant

(48.3cm) is significantly lower. The procedure for this study however included a drop of

40cm unlike the 25cm drop from this study hence why the results may differ. (Veliz et al.

2013). Another possible explanation for the large gap in lower leg power results could be the

practitioners' inexperience; many of the tests and equipment were conducted and used for

the first time, indicating a possible error in technique and/or application. Aouadi et al. (2012)

demonstrated that a greater lower limb length produced greater performance in the vertical

and drop jump. It has been well documented that the participant falls short of the normative

height values for an elite volleyball player, however contrary to these results, the participant

has shown to exceed many national team players when concerning jump height. Evidently a

considerable amount of time is dedicated to the gym to allow physiological (Wernborn,

Augustsson & Thomee, 2007) and neural (Carroll et al. 2011) adaptations to training thus

allowing improved jumping performance.

The relevancy of the Yo-Yo IR2 is questionable as it appears to be dissimilar to competition

demands (Sheppard et al. 2007) and thus could be a procedural limitation of the study.

Results of the study suggest that the participant requires a tailored strength and conditioning

programme to help maximise training adaptations, allowing for greater performance. As the



participant already has an individualised programme, it would be beneficial for their coach to

closely monitor progress to allow for the greatest possible results. It is recommended that

power and plyometrics should be primarily focused on, especially to improve vertical jump

height (Mihalik et al. 2008). It has also been established that lower extremity strength

training in volleyballer's can also improve times in the 5 & 10-m sprint (Voelzke et al. 2012).

Additional load of the eccentric phase of the VJ has shown to improve jump height

(Sheppard et al. 2008), highlighting another possible training procedure as this is crucial to

performance.

Conclusion

Although the subject is small for a volleyball player, testing has showed unexpected results

when compared to elite performers. While genetics may play a part, a substantial reason as

to why the subject attained these results is due to their own training programme. A focus on

lower-extremity strength training as well as power and plyometric's would make way for a

greater jump height to make up for the lack of height of the participant.

Peer-review

Feedback I received helped me to alter certain parts of my report that at first, I did not think

needed altering. The comments were mostly positive and guided me to make the relevant

changes needed to things such as structure and presentation. I feel that my case-study has

a better chance of attaining a higher grade after the review because of the different

recommendations made and subsequent alterations.

Feedback given to my peers was descriptive and I made it clear what 'could' be improved. I

gave as much detail as possible so they had the best chance of retrieving a higher grade

through structural and punctual changes. Positive comments were left in the notes to

highlight good parts of the work.

Word Count: 2190





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volleyball case study (1)