Relationship between fundamental volleyball techniques and somatic indicators and types among volleyball players

Abstract

Introduction. In this study, the relationship is examined between somatic structure and technical performance in men's volleyball, a sport requiring exceptional physical attributes, motor coordination and explosive actions such as spiking, blocking and serving. While serving and attacking are critical for scoring points, successful execution depends on contextual factors, i.e. reception quality, set type and anthropometric characteristics. In previous research, strong correlations have been demonstrated between somatotype, limb length and vertical jump ability—key determinants of both offensive and defensive performance. However, there remains a gap in understanding how detailed anthropometric indices influence volleyball-specific skills at the sub-elite level. Materials and Methods. The study included 37 male volleyball players competing in the second division of the Polish Volleyball Federation. Anthropometric measurements including Body Height (BH), Body Mass (BM), Torso Length (TL), Upper Limb Length (ULL) and Lower Limb Length (LLL)—were collected and used to calculate the following somatic indices: Upper Limb Length Index (ULLI), Lower Limb Length Index (LLLI), Torso Length Index (TLI), Body Mass Index (BMI) and Rohrer Index (RI). Match data were extracted using VolleyStation for the 2023/2024 season, covering key performance indicators such as attack, serve, block and reception efficiency. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficients and significance levels were computed to examine relationships between somatic structure and performance. Results. The analysis revealed that the athletic somatotype predominated among players, with relatively low variability in linear body proportions (ULLI, LLLI, TLI), suggesting selection bias towards somatic homogeneity. However, Body Mass and related indices (BMI, RI) showed greater variation, likely due to positional demands. Technical performance data indicated substantial variability in serving effectiveness (V = 1.86), reception quality (Exc% V = 0.80), and break points (V = 0.84), suggesting high individual differentiation. Attack point efficiency (X̅ = 6.81; Pts% = 0.62) was relatively consistent, underscoring the group's offensive strength. Conclusions. The findings allow to confirm that anthropometric traits, especially those related to limb proportions and body mass distribution, may influence specific volleyball skills. The predominance of athletic somatotype supports the significance of morphological profiling in player development. The variability in technical performance indicators highlights the need for individualized training and tactical adaptation. The results can provide information on talent identification, position-specific conditioning and optimization of skill acquisition in sub-elite male volleyball.