EVALUATION OF AN EXERCISE PROGRAM BASED ON SELECTED SPEED AND STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS IN ELITE FEMALE VOLLEYBALL ATHLETES

Abstract

INTRODUCTION -The Purpose of this study was to: a) identify the strength and/or speed variables that determine jumping ability and b) evaluate the effectiveness of a training program attempting to modify these variables. METHODS-Sixteen highly ski lied female volleyball athletes, equally divided into control and experimental groups, were tested tor: a) maximum knee joint extension isometric strength (F.....' knee and hip joints at 90°), b) counter-movement vertical jump with (CMJ1) and without (CMJ2) the use of the arms, c) vertical jump from a flexed (hip, knee and ankle joint) position (SJ), without counter-movement, and d) drop vertical jump (OJ), dropping fram a height of 40cm. Regression analysis revealed that the best predictors (p