The effect of the prolonged competitive season on semi-elite female volleyball players’ physical performance

Abstract

Despite the literature on the changes in the physical performance characteristics of elite female athletes during the competition period, up to this date, there was no study of the physical performances of both the aerobic and anaerobic contented of the semi-elite female volleyball players over the competitive season. For this reason, this study was carried out in order to determine the effect of prolonged competitive season on semi-elite female volleyball players' physical performance. Volunteer 47 athletes were recruited from same group of division III in Turkey Women Volleyball League. During compet itive season, athletes took part in an official match and 3-4 training seasons per week. Body mass, VO2 max, 20m sprint, agility, vertical jumping, explosive power, aerobic and anaerobic power were assessed before and after 22-week competitive season. Normality data was primarily tested with Shapiro-Wilk and evaluated with Wilcoxon test because of abnormal distribution. There was significant improvement in VO2 max (2.26%), 20 m sprint time (2.1%), agility (1.6%), vertical jump (2.99%), explosive power (3.5%), maximal anaerobic power (6.35%), whereas decrease in minimum (-5.8%) and average anaerobic (-30.66%) power (p<0.05), but decrease in body mass wasn't significant. This study indicated that prolonged competitive season had negative effect on anaerobic capacity and positive effect on agility, sprint, VO2 max, vertical jumping and explosive power in the semi-elite female volleyball players.