Physiological Profile for Volleyball

by Allison Jones

The Fitness Demands of Volleyball

Sport or Activity

Energy Fitness Muscular Fitness

Aerobic Anaerobic Flexibility Strength Endurance Speed Power

Volleyball Medium High Med-High Low Medium High High

Energy Fitness

Is volleyball more aerobic or anaerobic?– Fox and Matthews (1974): more anaerobic– Viitasolo (1987) and Smith (1991): more aerobic

Volleyball was shown to rely highly on the aerobic system based on a high depletion of glycogen in slow-twitch fibers (Smith, 1991, 131).

The anaerobic system is used during the action of volleyball, while the aerobic system is used to replenish energy during the breaks from movement (Viitasolo, 1987, 199).

Energy Fitness

Volleyball Time-Motion Analysis

VO2 Max

Studies I found measured the VO2 max of elite male volleyball players using treadmills and ergometers.– Viitasolo (1987) found average VO2 max levels

ranging from 56.6 to 56.8 ml/kg/min in the Finnish National Team and a Finnish club team using a treadmill.

– Smith (1991) found VO2 max levels ranging from 42.5 to 63.7 ml/kg/min in Canadian National and Universiade players using an ergometer.

Blood Lactic Levels

Blood lactic levels were measured in the Finnish national team following a training session.– Team average of 11.0 ± 2.1 mmol/l.

Blood lactic levels were measured in the Kiri club team following three normal matches in a tournament.– Team average of 11.0 ± 2.7 mmol/l.

Blood Lactic Levels

Muscular Fitness

Speed and strength work together to provide power, the most important aspect of muscular fitness in volleyball.

– There are differences in opinion as to the relative importance of speed and strength, but all agree that power is key, especially for the movements that require jumping.

I rated flexibility as being of medium importance based on experience, but was unable to find information in the studies to support this.

Endurance was also found to be of great importance, considering that the average match lasts about 90 minutes.

References

Gabbett, T., Georgieff, B., Anderson, S., Cotton, B., Savovic, D., Nicholson, L. (2006) Changes in skill and physical fitness following training in talent-identified volleyball players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20(1), 29-35.

Hakkinen, K. (1993). Changes in physical fitness profile in female volleyball players during the competitive season. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 33, 223-232.

Heimer, S., Misigoj, M., Medved, V. (1988). Some anthropological characteristics of top volleyball players in SFR Yugoslavia. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 28, 200-208.

Martens, R. (2004). Successful Coaching (3rd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Smith, D. J., Roberts, D., Watson, B. (1991) Physical, physiological, and performance differences between Canadian national team and universiade volleyball players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 10, 131-138.

Viitasolo, J. T., Rusko, H., Pajala, O. (1987). Endurance requirements in volleyball. Canadian Journal of Sport Sciences, 12, 194-201.