ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2014 October;173(10):499-506

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The effect of volleyball training on jumping performance in prepubescent boys

Kousi E. ¹, Papadopoulou D. S. ¹, Bassa E. ¹, Ikonomou C. ², Lazaridis N. S. ^{1, 3}

¹ Laboratory of Coaching and Sport Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; ² Technological Educational Institution of Serres, Department of Physical Activity, Greece; ³ Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Post Doctoral Researcher in A.U.TH. Research Committee, Greece

AIM: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of volleyball training on jumping performance in prepubescent boys and on the effective use of elastic energy on different types of jumps.
METHODS: The sample consisted of thirty (30) preadolescent boys 9-11 years old, out of whom fifteen (15) were volleyball athletes (VA) and fifteen (15) were non-athletes (NA). Each participant executed three squat jumps (SJ), countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps (DJ) from a height of 5-50cm per 5cm; the best value for every type of jump was selected and recorded. Measurements were performed using the portable electronic Ergojump Bosco platform. For the statistical analysis, the ANOVA method (repeated measures analysis of variance) 2x12 and 2x10 with Bonferroni correction was applied.
RESULTS: According to the results, VA presented significantly higher values in jump height and flying time in all jump types compared to NA (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between VA and NA with regard to ground contact time and power output (P<0.05). Also, VA presented significantly higher values of jump height and flying time in CMJ compared to DJ (P<0.05), while the opposite applied in NA (p>.05). In overall, preadolescent boys did not show significant differences between the different heights of DJ, concerning contact time or power output (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, volleyball training contributes to improving jumping performance. However, all preadolescent boys, both VB and NA, were unable to make the best use of the stretch-shortening cycle in order to present a better performance in DJ compared to CMJ.