Anthropometric and jumping profiles of U19 boys’ volleyball players in the 2019 World Championship

Abstract

Background: The identification of anthropometric and jumping characteristics is crucial for the selection, guidance, and training of talents in volleyball. This study aimed to determine the profiles of anthropometric characteristics and jumping ability of boys’ volleyball players who participated in the 2019 U19 World Championships from five different continents and compare these characteristics based on their technical position (blocker, spiker, opposite, setter, libero), continents, and team standings. Methods and Materials: An analysis was conducted on the anthropometric characteristics of volleyball players who participated in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) U-19 World Championship for Boys 2019. Data, including spike height, height, weight, and block height, were obtained from the FIVB website for all teams and players who participated in the championship. The 348 players among 20 teams were divided into categories based on their playing position (five ranks), rank (20 ranks), class rank (five ranks), nation (20 countries), and class (five continents). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using height (cm) and weight (kg). Results: This study presents data on the physical characteristics and jumping ability of boys’ volleyball players at different levels in the 2019 championship according to their final ranking and technical playing positions. The information can be used as an index of average weight, height, BMI, spike height, and block height to select talents and improve the selection and training process for various technical playing positions in volleyball. Conclusion: Our findings revealed a statistically significant correlation between height, weight, spike, and block of first-place teams. Boys’ volleyball players under the age of 19 at different locations had different anthropometric and jumping characteristics, with height being a factor that differs depending on the player’s location. Based on our findings, we conclude that jumping ability is essential in volleyball.