Abstract

Six members of a womens intercollegiate volleyball team were evaluated on selected measures of physical fitness at the beginning and end of a competitive season. Their initial level of fitness was lower than that of other female athletes on the basis of predicted maximal aerobic power and percent body fat. The strenuousness of womens intercollegiate volleyball was also assessed with electrocardiographic radiotelemetry. Team members practiced twice a week, approximately two hours per session for seven weeks. There were also fourteen scheduled matches during this period of time. Although the intensity of effort during practice and competition was moderate (mean practice heart rate = 134 (67 maximal heart rate) and mean game heart rate = 139 (69,5 maximal heart rate), this was sufficient to result in significant improvement (p<0,05) in physical work capacity from 716 to 851 kpm x min (+18), and predicted maximal aerobic power from 28.2 to 33.0 ml/kg x min (+18). There were no significant changes in body fat, muscle girths, flexibility or strength. It was also determined that heart rate was elevated from 3 to 8 during game competition compared to practice, and that the most strenuous aspects of volleyball were the skill components of blocking and spiking while the least vigorous was that of serving. Verf.-Referat