Effects of Training Surface on Physiological Characteristics of Prepubescent Female Volleyball Players

Purpose: The present study investigated the effects of different training surfaces on physiological characteristics of prepubescent female volleyball players. Method: 45 prepubescent girls (age: 11.1 ± 0.5 years) were separated in groups S (N=15) and H (N=15) that consisted of volleyball players, while group C (N=15) consisted of girls that had no volleyball training experience. Groups S and H participated in a 10-week volleyball training program including sprints, jumps and technical exercises, while group C executed only technical skills exercises. Group S trained on sand surface, while groups H and C trained on hard surface indoors. Aerobic capacity (20m shuttle run), agility (Illinois test), countermovement (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) as well as 10m sprint test were conducted before, in the middle (5th week) and after the end of the training program for groups S and H. Group C was tested only before and after the training period. Results: Aerobic capacity, agility, jumping and sprinting ability were significantly (p<0.01) improved in groups S and H even from the 5th week of training. Group S achieved greater improvements than group H in all tested variables. Conclusion: Training on sand surface seems to promote training adaptations improving the physiological characteristics of prepubescent female volleyball players.