What Variables Allow the Differentiation between More and Less Successful Adolescent Volleyball Players?

Kinanthropometric and physical fitness variables have been habitually used for the detection of sports talent in adolescent populations. Considering these variables, players who obtained better scores than their peers in kinanthropometric and physical fitness variables have been traditionally selected for promotion in their teams, without taking into account the possible effect of the maturation process. The aim of the present study was to analyse the differences between adolescent volleyball players in terms of success assessment and the age category, as well as to identify variables that may predict success in volleyball. A total of 101 volleyball players in the U14 age category (28 boys and 73 girls; age = 13.28 ± 0.49 years) and 99 players in the U16 age category (20 boys and 79 girls; age = 15.24 ± 0.59 years) participated in the study. Significant differences were observed in biological maturation in male groups (p < 0.001-0.041), kinanthropometric variables related to bone structure and muscle mass in male groups (p < 0.001-0.048), in variables related to adipose tissue in the U16 female group (p = 0.012-0.032) and in physical fitness tests related to muscle strength and power (p < 0.001-0.049), indicating that more successful (MS) players showed a more advanced biological maturation process, higher values of kinanthropometric variables related to bone structure and muscle mass, and lower values in variables related to adipose tissue, as well as higher levels of physical fitness. The difference in biological maturation and its relationship with structural and muscular anthropometric variables in boys, and physical fitness tests related to muscle strength and power in both boys and girls, are of great importance in the selection process of sports talent in volleyball. These findings should be considered by clubs and coaches, who could be discarding players who could improve their sports performance in later stages when their maturational development is equalised.