LOWER LIMB ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS AS PREDICTORS OF VERTICAL JUMP PERFORMANCE AMONG COMPETITIVE FEMALE NETBALL PLAYERS

P. A. Amla, Paul V. Jackson

Abstract


Vertical jump performance (VJP) is one of the key indicators of explosive power of the lower limb, and it is essential for obtaining better performance and successful outcomes in Netball, where jumping ability is repeatedly used for shooting, passing, receiving, and rebounding. Although Anthropometric characteristics of Netball players have been suggested to influence jumping performance, the predictive anthropometric variables remain insufficiently understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between selected lower-limb anthropometric variables, such as Leg length (LL), Thigh circumference (TC), Calf circumference (CC), and vertical jump performance (VJP), and to understand the lower-limb anthropometric predictor variables to improve VJP among female All India inter-university Netball players (N=120), aged between 18–25 years. Lower limb anthropometric characteristics such as LL, TC, and CC were measured by following the International Standards for Anthropometric Assessment (ISAK) protocol, while VJP was assessed using the Sargent Vertical Jump Test. Descriptive statistics, the Shapiro–Wilk test, Pearson's product–moment correlation, and multiple linear regression (Enter method) were calculated with IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software. The findings revealed that CC shows a strong positive relationship with VJP, whereas LL and TC were not significantly correlated with VJP. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the anthropometric variables collectively explained 66.3% of the variance in VJP. The findings revealed that CC is the strongest anthropometric predictor of VJP among female Netball players, whereas TC showed no significant predictive value, and LL exhibited a small negative association after adjustment for the other variables.

Keywords


anthropometry; vertical jump; female netball players; lower-limb morphology; explosive power

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v13i6.6991

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