| dc.description.abstract | Physical abilities modelling has a profound connection with long-term athlete development
and talent identification. There is not enough data to support evidence about age-related changes in
volleyball players’ isometric strength. This study aimed to define the age-related model of volleyball
players multidimensional muscles’ contractile characteristics. The participants were divided according
to gender (male n = 112, female n = 371) and according to age into four groups: under 15 (U15),
under 17 (U17), under 19 (U19), and under 21 (U21) years old. Participants performed three isometric
strength tests: handgrip, lumbar extensors, and ankle extensors. Maximal force and rate of force
development results from all three tests were transformed into a single Score value as a representation
of contractile potentials using principal component analysis. The main findings were that Score
values of both genders showed significant di erences between age groups (male: F = 53.17, p < 0.001;
Female: F = 41.61, p < 0.001). Trends of those yearly changes were slightly more balanced for female
subjects (3.9%) compared to male subjects (6.3%). These findings could help in strength training
adjustments when working with volleyball players of a certain age, and enable coaches to detect ones
that stand out positively, considering them as strong in regard to their age. | en_US |
