ANTHROPOMETRIC AND BODY COMPOSITION DETERMINANTS OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN ADOLESCENT VOLLEYBALL ATHLETES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Volleyball performance depends on a complex interaction between anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and physical fitness qualities. Identifying which characteristics most strongly predict physical performance can support talent identification and training prescription in youth volleyball. This study examined which anthropometric and body composition variables most strongly and consistently predict physical performance in adolescent volleyball athletes. A cross-sectional correlational design was used with 69 volleyball athletes (47 boys, 22 girls; age 13–19 years). Anthropometric variables (height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, muscle mass percentage, fat-free mass) and body composition variables (five skinfolds, two bone breadths, arm and calf circumference) were measured alongside ten physical performance tests spanning balance, strength, power, speed, agility, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Data were analyzed with Spearman correlation and backward-elimination multiple linear regression. Fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat percentage (BF%) were the most consistent significant predictors, appearing in eight of ten regression models (R² = 0.217–0.648, p<0.001 for all but stand-stroke balance and push-up). FFM was positively associated with strength, power, agility, and cardiorespiratory endurance, whereas BF% was negatively associated with power, speed, agility, and endurance. Muscle mass percentage predicted sprint speed and change-of-direction ability. Localized skinfold thickness and bone breadth showed weak, mostly non-significant associations with performance. Male athletes outperformed female athletes on nearly all fitness tests except push-up. Global body composition indices particularly fat-free mass and body fat percentage rather than raw anthropometric size or localized skinfold/bone measures, are key determinants of physical performance in adolescent volleyball athletes, offering practical, low-cost targets for talent identification and training prescription.