The Impact of Training Surface in Agility of Prepubescent Volleyball Players

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of training surface in agility of prepubescent volleyball players.Thirty female prepubescent volleyball players (age: 11.2 ± 0.6yrs) took part in this study and were randomly allocated in two groups. Group A (N=15) participated in a 10 week training programme in sand surface, while group B (N=15) participated in a same programme in land surface. Measurements of agility (T-Test & Illinois) were conducted before (pre) and after (post) the training period. Subjects performed the agility tests on the land (L condition) and on the sand (S condition). Differences in agility pre-post training, between the conditions and between the groups were analysed using T-test. Agility T-Test and Illinois did not differ significantly in both groups in pre condition, but were significantly improved in post (p< 0.001). Group A achieved greater improvement in T-Test in both L and S condition compared to group B (S condition: A= 15.0 ± 0.1 vs. B= 17.2 ± 0.2sec, p< 0.0001 and L condition: A= 13.2 ± 0.1 vs. B= 14.4 ± 0.1sec, p< 0.0001). In accordance were the results for Illinois test (S condition: A= 21.4 ± 0.2 vs. B= 22.3 ± 0.1sec, p< 0.0001 and L condition: A= 20.2 ± 0.1 vs. B= 21.1 ± 0.2sec, p< 0.0001).Despite the fact that agility was improved in both groups after the 10-week training program, the much greater improvement achieved in group A suggest that the training surface may play an important role.