SOMATOTYPE OF YOUNG FEMALE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

The aim of this study was to compare the somatotype of youth Croatian female volleyball players (mean age 14.05 years) in terms of playing performance. All players evaluated were classified into a less successful group (N=53) and a group of more successful players (N=61). The somatotype means of the whole sample were 4.41 – 2.79 – 3.68±1.02 – 1.04 – 1.29, of less successful players 4.69 – 2.94 – 3.40 ± 0.95 – 0.96 – 1.21, and of more successful players 4.17 – 2.69 – 3.87 ± 1.03 – 1.07 – 1.30. Based on a Category Chart, 7 somatotype categories were obtained. A significantly higher proportion of balanced ectomorph somatotype category was established in more successful players, and a significantly higher proportion of ectomorphicendomorph somatotype category was found in less successful players.