Relation between anthropometry, maturity and jump height in elite adolescent volleyball players

Introduction: Sports performance in adolescents can be influenced by maturity status. Especially in sports where body height and power matter, young successful athletes appear to be early mature. This study examined the influence of anthropometric characteristics and maturity on jump height in elite adolescent volleyball players. Methods: Forty-two male elite adolescent players (mean age ± s = 15.3 ± 1.4) performed three maximal attack and block jumps. Relative jump height was calculated as absolute jump height - standing reach height. Anthropometric measures were used to calculate age at peak height velocity (APHV) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM). Independent T-tests were used to detect differences in anthropometrics and jump heights between the maturity groups. Pearson correlations were used to detect associations between anthropometrics, APHV and jump heights. Results: Nineteen players (45%) were classified as early mature (EM) and 23 (55%) as on time (OT). EM players were not different from OT players in calendar age and body height but EM players were heavier, had greater sitting height, higher ratio sitting height/body height, SMM, fat%, sum of seven skinfolds and larger limb circumferences than OT players. Absolute nor relative jump heights differed between maturity groups. Shorter players had higher relative attack jump height, but this could not completely compensate for their smaller absolute jump height in comparison with taller players. Earlier APHV was associated with greater height, weight, sitting height, SMM, limb circumferences and absolute block jump height. No significant associations were found between APHV and relative jump heights. Lower body height, shorter legs and arms, and lower sitting height were associated with higher relative attack jump height, but not with relative block jump height. Both absolute attack and block jump height were associated with greater body height, weight, leg and arm length, sitting height, SMM and limb circumferences. Conclusions: Relative attack jump height seems to depend more on certain anthropometric measures as compared to relative block jump height. We suggest that tall players should specifically train to improve their relative jump height to obtain superior absolute jump height. Although jump performance of EM players was not better, early mature athletes seem to have an advantage in elite youth volleyball.