The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 8-week unilateral and bilateral plyometric training program on jump ability and agility performance of young female volleyball players. Secondary school female volleyball players (N = 62, age = 14.56 ± 1.45 years, height = 159.14 ± 6.57 cm, weight = 53.55 ± 9.03 kg) were randomized and divided into three groups: the unilateral plyometric training group (UP), the bilateral plyometric training group (BP), and the control group (CON). For the UP and BP, the subjects completed 15 unilateral or bilateral plyometric training sessions over 8 weeks in addition to the regular volleyball training. For the CON, the subjects performed the regular volleyball training only. Pre-test and post-test were performed by all subjects before and after the intervention. The jump ability and agility performance were assessed by countermovement vertical jump (CVJ: double legs, right leg, and left leg), squat jump (SJ), 5 repeated block jumps (RBJ), standing long jump (SLJ), and T agility test. 2-way ANOVAs with repeated measures (3 groups x 2 times) were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that CVJ (right leg and left leg), RBJ, SLJ, and T agility test performance significantly increased (p < .05) after 8 weeks for both unilateral and bilateral training, but there were no differences (p > .05) between groups. Interaction effects (p < .05) existed for the CVJ (right leg), RBJ, and T agility test, indicating that from pre-test to post-test the UP had greater improvement than the CON. The CVJ (double legs) and SJ did not differ (p > .05) among types of training or from pre-test to post-test. It can be concluded that both unilateral and bilateral training are effective on improving most of the performance outcomes, but one program is not significantly better than the other in improving the jump ability and agility performance.

Eight males participated in this study to examine the effects of an essential amino acid supplement, Rebuild 1111, on cortisol secretions induced by resistance training. Subjects were randomly allocated to either branched chain amino acids (BCAA) orplacebo (P) groups. The protocol followed a double blind cross-over design whereby both groups participated in three weeks of supplementation followed by a week of resistance training with continued supplementation. Within this week, four resistance training sessions occurred, each of which comprised three sets of six to eight repetitions of leg press, leg curl, leg extension, chest press, military press, latissimus pulldown, dumbbell curl, and tricep pushdown, at 75 - 80% of IRM. This protocol was repeated, consuming the alternative treatment, following a five week period with no supplement or training. Blood was drawn at baseline, after three weeks of supplementation (day 2 1), two days of training (day 24), four days of training (day 27), and 48 hours after final training session (day 28). Serum was analyzed for cortisol (C), testosterone (T), and creatine kinase (CK). Subjects were allocated to either light (Group A) or heavy (Group B) due to the high correlation (r = 0.736 to 0.966) between mass and the measured variables, and theheterogeneous nature of these two subgroups. A repeated measures ANOVA with a significant level set at p<0.05, found no difference between BCAA and P for either group for any of the measured variables. Group A however had consistently lower serum C and CK, and higher T and testosterone:cortisol ratio with BCAA supplementation. Group B hormone response was inconsistent with training and supplementation. Group B CK was consistently lower with BCAA supplementation. Conclusions: There is some evidence that BCAA supplementation may reduce the catabolic stress response and cellular breakdown due to resistance training. Further study investigating the effect of varied dose and mass of subjects is required to elucidate these findings further. For statistical significance, larger sample size is needed. / School of Physical Education

Thesis (M.A.)--San Francisco State University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-36). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.A.)--San Francisco State University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-36).

Thesis (M.S.)--Ball State University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-49). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ball State University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-49).

Mood state changes have been assessed in endurance sport athletes such as swimmers, distance runners and rowers. However, much less is known about the psychological changes that occur in team sport athletes. The purpose of this study was to assess mood state changes of intercollegiate female volleyball players across a competitive season.

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Osteoporosis is a significant public health problem for individuals over age 50 (55% are at risk), particularly for women. A key preventive strategy is increasing peak bone mass in youth. Limited information exists on the role that competitive sport activities can play in developing bone mass. Volleyball is a popular sport for girls and involves high impact activity and plyometric training. The purpose of the study was to compare bone mineral density (BMD) between high school and college competitive volleyball players to age matched controls. Relationships between BMD and age, and years of competitive play were also analyzed. The calcium intake, and time spent jumping in practice (volleyball players only) for each group were also assessed. Subject inclusion criteria were: no eating disorders, not amenorrhoeic, did not use calcium supplements (doctor recommended). The volleyball players followed the criteria above and played volleyball >7 months in a year. Subjects were 13 high school volleyball players (HSVB), 10 high school non-athletes (HSN), and 13 college volleyball players (CVB), and 13 college nonathlees (CN). The mean (+ SD) age, weight, body fat percentage, calcium intake, and years of competitive volleyball for the HSVB players were 16.2 + 1.3 yr, 67.5 + 8.0 kg, 27.2 ± 5.3 %, 1269.7 ± 581.7 mg, and 7.2 ± 1.2 yr. and for the CVB players were 19.5 + 1.0 yr, 74.2 ± 9.2 kg, 28.4 ± 4.7 %, 1059.6 ± 462.2 mg, and 8.5 ± 2.3 yr. respectively. The mean (+SD) age, weight, body fat percentage, and calcium intake for the HSN 16.2 ± 1.3 yr, 66.8 ± 12.4 kg, 34.7 + 6.1 %, and 857.9 + 469.5 mg and for the CN were 19.5 ± 1.0 yr, 73.9 + 9.1 kg, 40.1 + 4.4 %, and 1216.4 + 551.9 mg. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to determine the body composition and BMD at the following regions: AP spine, dual femur, and total body. The only significant descriptive difference was in percent body fat (P>0.05-0.01). The significant difference (P>0.01) between the athletes and non-athletes occurred in the AP spine (1.38 + 0.1 g.cm-2 and 1.20 ± 0.1 g•cm-2), dual femur (1.22 + 0.1 g•cm 2 and 1.05 ± 0.1 g•cm-2), and total body measurements (1.26 ± 0.1 g•cm 2 and 1.16 ± 0.1 ?cm-2). The athleticism and age was not significant for the BMD in the AP spine, total body, and dual femur. Likewise, the correlations between years playing volleyball and jumping in practice were not significant. The correlation between calcium intake in volleyball players and non-athletes showed no significant difference. In conclusion BMD is higher in volleyball players compared to non-athletes however there was no difference between the college and high school volleyball players. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

"The purpose of this study was to identify factors that most influence prospective female volleyball student-athletes' selection of an NCAA Division I university. This research was an applied, cross-sectional study using a multi-method approach of collecting data using surveys and telephone interviews. The sample in this study was approximately 500 Division I female collegiate volleyball players from sixty-four universities"--Abstract. / Typescript. / "Spring Semester, 1998." / "Submitted to the Department of Physical Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy." / Advisor: Robert A. Rider, Professor Directing Dissertation. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-131).