loris bertolacci

Volleyball and Development

Motor Structures in Female Volleyball Players Aged 14–17 According to Technique Quality and Performance. Ratko Katic Coll. Antropol. 30 (2006) 1: 103–112

volleyball-development-study.doc

This is a good read but as usual is just a study on one small group of kids. Not the written word. The problem that occurs is that people read studies or books or websites ( or blogs HA) and believe what they read. Belinda Gabbe presented at the AFL hamstring conference Sept 06 and explained that the only real study that might be relied upon is a cohort study. Thus one would have to get the whole AFL and get half the players to do programs used for Hamstring injury prevention and the other half nothing. Then one simply has to let them go and for example 5 years later check the statisitics. Unethical, impractical and won’t happen. Other studies are called case studies and cross sectional studies and can be very useful but may not be scientifically validated. So when you read these research article or anything I write, take it in and store it away for future reference. Thats all.

ANYWAY ONTO THE STUDY:

There were 2 age groups 14–15 and 16–17 . The study pinpointed 2 groups. Those more efficient at the net (explosive strength + agility) and those more efficient in the field (psychomotor speed + agility). Also some stats were provided as possible benchmarks for varied qualities (elite) female volleyball players aged 14–15 and 16–17.

Tests used for explosive strength assessment
1. standing long jump 2. standing vertical jump 3. approach vertical jump – jump both legs after volleyball 3-step approach 4. throwing medicine ball from supine position – 1-kg medicine ball
Tests for agility assessment ( should be change direction!)
1.6mx6m run – Change of direction test 2. 9-3-6-3-9 m run – Another change direction test. 3. T test 4. Hexagon test: Jump test
Tests for assessment of movement frequency ( reads like a dance to me!)
1. hand tapping 2. double hand tapping 3. foot tapping 3. foot tapping against the wall –
6 variables were used for assessment of volleyball technical efficiency
1. service 2. serve reception 3. setting 4. spike 5. block 6. field defense

*They also ranked the girls for volleyball qualities and also team qualities

MY GENERAL SUMMARY or INTERPRETATION of this study

I have copied the conclusions below from the article. From my perspective relative to development and relative to many team sports what this article says is that at 6 to 10 kids should learn the sport and all its skills and also grab the window of opportunity and play fast sports and do activities that assist co-ordination. At 10 to 12 ( before puberty?) work on change of direction and agility with training and varied sports and specific volleyball training and maybe throw some medicine balls around and get off the ground with sprints for example. Not advanced plyometrics! Then at puberty onwards do some light strength work and related basic jump and jump technique training to enhance volleyball skills. Again general work that creates a base and complements volleyball skills. At 14 to 15 work hard on most aspects but still work more on change of direction and general strength needs and individual needs. Then at 15 to 17 power them up and speed them up. If the girl is mature and has a good training age then work hard but of they are down on qualities go back to square one and get these “topped” up. So ideally at 17 the base should be set and they are on their way. Ideal! This is one way I would interpret this study?

ACTUAL CONCLUSIONS FROM THE STUDY

*at age 9, selection should be based on psychomotor speed and coordination on solving complex motor problems. These motor abilities will ultimately limit
elite game performance: psychomotor speed by facilitating technique performance, and coordination and/or motor intelligence through faster motor learning and efficient solution of game situations;
*at age 11, selection should be based on coordination in terms of agility and explosive strength facilitating performance of basic technique elements, e.g., service and serve receipt;
*at age 13, selection should be based on explosive strength and agility that facilitate performance of techniques, e.g., block and spike;
*at age 15, selection should be based on specific motor abilities that are primarily related to body height, strength and spike precision, i.e. specific explosive strength and specific agility-mobility; and
*at age 17, selection should be done by evaluation of all specific motor abilities, especially specific speed and specific agility-mobility, enabling elite female volleyballers to efficiently manage all possible game situations and facilitate their technique performance, especially those in field defense

July 28, 2007 - Posted by Loris Bertolacci | Development, Volleyball Strength and Conditioning