2016, Volume 8, Issue 4
Volleyball players’ somatic composition in the light of sports results at 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship
Krzysztof Wnorowski1, Karol Ciemiński1
1Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport
Author for correspondence: Karol Ciemiński; Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport; email: cieminski.awfis[at]gmail.com
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Abstract
Background: The aim of the study was to analyse sports results and the somatic composition of participants in the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship held in Poland.
Material/Methods: Research material involved volleyball players participating in the World Championships (n = 280). Their age, height, weight, one-arm spike reach, both-arm block reach, and Rohrer’s index were analysed. The mean value of the features and their derivatives in individual teams and groups were calculated and verified using statistical tests (t-Student, Mann-Whitney and Cochran-Cox) if the differences were significant.
Results: The subjects’ mean age was 26.33 years (SD = 3.90), body height 198.41 cm (SD = 6.05), body weight 89.40 kg (SD = 8.43), spike reach 344.08 cm (SD = 13.37), block reach 326.68 cm (SD = 13.09), Rohrer’s index 1.15 (SD = 0.10). 90.36% of the volleyball players manifested the leptosomatic body composition, 9.28% the athletic one, and 0.36% the pyknic one. The highest and the lowest ranked teams in the analysed tournament significantly differed in the spike reach (P < 0.005) and in body height (P < 0.015).
Conclusions: The leptosomatic body composition type is dominant among volleyball players at the top level of sports championship. The body height and the spike reach significantly differentiate the top and the bottom ranked teams participating in the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship. These characteristics should be taken into account in selection to play men's volleyball.
Key words: high-performance, anthropometry, sports result, sports competition, body type