RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOWER LIMBS LENGTH AND VERTICAL JUMP IN YOUNG VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

Objectives: To determine the relationships between anthropometric characteristics and vertical jump performance (VJP) in adolescent volleyball players. Method: fifty two adolescent volleyball players (aged 14 to 17years) were studied. The following anthropometric measurements were determined: age, body weight, body height, and lower limbs length (LLL). Besides, two types of vertical jump (VJ) tests were performed: squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump without arm swing (CMJ). Backwards stepwise analysis was determined in order to choose the potential predictors. Results: Our results revealed a relationship between VJP and LLL. Our findings showed that prediction model was found to have an R square of 0.39 for SJ and of 0.42 for CMJ (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that LLL is strong predictor of VJP in young athletes and could be used by coaches and sports scientists as a mean of selection of young people especially in volleyball sports.