JUMP ANALYSIS OF A COLLEGIATE WOMEN??S VOLLEYBALL TEAM

Abstract

Vertical jumping ability is used as an assessment of power output and is an essential component to the success of volleyball players. Jump analysis of athletes provides useful information that is used by coaches to prescribe training protocols. PURPOSE: This study compared height, weight, vertical and actual jump height (with and without arm swing), and propulsion time of a intercollegiate (Division I) volleyball team with a national women's team. In addition, the effect of arm swing and influence of propulsion time, height, and weight on vertical jump were analyzed. METHODS: Eight members of the 2000 Syracuse University women's volleyball team (19.6 +/− 1.18yrs, 178.6 +/− 4.24cm, 70.1 +/− 4.1kg) participated in the study. Data previously obtained from 18 women from a US National volleyball team (23.1 +/− 2.24yrs, 183.8 +/− 5.75cm, 74.8 +/− 4.88 kg) was used as a comparison. Subjects performed 6 jumps on a force platform, 3 jumps with arm swing and 3 without. Actual (AH) and vertical (VH) jump heights were recorded using a Vertec for the three jumps with an arm swing. Jump height and propulsion time was also analyzed using the force plate data from the 3 jumps with arm swing (AS) and the 3 jumps without (NAS). RESULTS: The Syracuse University team had significantly greater jump height (59.4 +/− 4.4cm VH, 36.8 +/− 6.22 NAS) when compared to the US team (53.4 +/− 5.0cm VH, 31.1 +/− 3.2 NAS, p < 0.05). However, the US team had significantly greater actual jump height and smaller propulsion times (296.5 +/− 9.8cm AH, 0.261 +/− 0.039s) when compared to the Syracuse team (288.6 +/− 6.3cm AH, 0.303 +/− 0.037s, p < 0.05). Arm swing was found to contribute 11 and 19% of vertical jump height for the Syracuse and US team, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that actual jump height and propulsion time may be more important than vertical jump to the success of volleyball players.