Effects of sport-specific training background on performance of volleyball and basketball athletes

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of 3 years of sport-specific training background (SSTB) on throwing performance and vertical jumping in young female players of team sports. Methods: Thirty-one healthy adolescent girls, of which 11 age-matched control subjects [C], 10 volleyballers (VP) and 10 basketballers (BP) were considered in our analysis. The vertical jumping performance was evaluated by squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump with (CMJ-AS) and without arm swing (CMJ) using Optojump system (Microgate S.R.L., Italy). Instead, the throwing performance was measured by seated backward overhead ball throw (SBOMBT) and seated chest pass throw (SCPT) using a 3-kg rubber medicine ball. Results: During SJ and CMJ with and without arm swing volleyballers showed a higher vertical jump performance than basketballers and control subjects. VP presented a higher flight time and jump height than C (p<0.05) in SJ, CMJ and CMJ-AS tests. Players showed higher performances than C in SCPT and SBOMBT. However, we found only a significant difference (p<0.05) in the comparison between BP and C during SCPT. Conclusion: These data suggest that three years of sport-specific training background might be able to promote significant neuromuscular adaptations in volleyball and basketball athletes’ maximal power compared to age-matched control subjects (1). However 3 years of SSTB did not affect the magnitude of sport-related differences significantly in throwing and jumping performance. Reference: 1. Battaglia et al. (2013). Influence of a sport-specific training background on vertical jumping throwing performance in young female basketball and volleyball players. In press in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness.