A study was performed to evaluate the physical capacity of elite female volleyball players from Kyushu Bunka Gakuen Senior High School (Kyu. B. G.) . Twenty-four players were examined for body composition (underwater weighing), cardiorespiratory function (VO₂max and O₂debtmax by treadmill exercise test) and skinfold thickness, from 1988 to 1989.
These measurements were compared with those of 16 second-class players from Nagasaki Prefecture, and also with the results of other investigations.
The results were as follows :
1. The mean parameters for the Kyu. B. G, players were : age, 17.5 yr ; height, 168.3 cm ; weight, 59.8 kg ; percentage body fat (%Fat ), 17.9% ; lean body mass ( LBM), 49.0 kg ; LBM/ Ht, 29.1 kg/m ; sum of eight skinfold thicknesses, 109.1 mm ; VO₂max, 2.71 l/min, 45.7 ml/kg· min ; O₂debtmax, 5.69l, 94.8 ml/kg.
2. The average %Fat of the Kyu. B. G, players was significantly lower than that of the second-class players from Nagasaki Prefecture.
3. The average VO₂max (ml/kg·min) and O₂debtmax (l, ml/kg) of the Kyu. B. G, players were significantly higher than those of the second-class players.
4. The average %Fat and VO₂max (ml/kg·min) of the Kyu. B. G, players were similar to those of Japan League and All Japan volleyball players.
5. When the progress of physiological function due to training for 11 months was examined in five Kyu. B. G, players, the average VO₂max (ml/kg·min) showed a significant increase of approximately 8%.
These results indicated that the Kyu. B. G, players had a superior body composition, aerobic work capacity and anaerobic work capacity, equal to those of top volleyball players in Japan.