ABSTRACT
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 (VO<SUB>2</SUB>max and O<SUB>2</SUB>debtmax by treadmill exercise test) and skinfold thickness, from 1988 to 1989.<BR>These measurements were compared with those of 16 second-class players from Nagasaki Prefecture, and also with the results of other investigations.<BR>The results were as follows :<BR>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 ; VO<SUB>2</SUB>max, 2.71 l/min, 45.7 ml/kg· min ; O<SUB>2</SUB>debtmax, 5.69l, 94.8 ml/kg.<BR>2. The average %Fat of the Kyu. B. G, players was significantly lower than that of the second-class players from Nagasaki Prefecture.<BR>3. The average VO<SUB>2</SUB>max (ml/kg·min) and O<SUB>2</SUB>debtmax (l, ml/kg) of the Kyu. B. G, players were significantly higher than those of the second-class players.<BR>4. The average %Fat and VO<SUB>2</SUB>max (ml/kg·min) of the Kyu. B. G, players were similar to those of Japan League and All Japan volleyball players.<BR>5. When the progress of physiological function due to training for 11 months was examined in five Kyu. B. G, players, the average VO<SUB>2</SUB>max (ml/kg·min) showed a significant increase of approximately 8%.<BR>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.